Ceramics from French sites: Current Directions

The 1990s and early 2000s saw a blossoming of research about ceramics found at French colonial sites. Yet more than ten years have passed since the «International conference for French colonial pottery» was held in Louisiana, and since the proposal for a working classification for French faiences. What is the current state of the research, and what advances have been made during this time? The purpose of this session is to bring together a broad range of projects that transcend national borders including, in particular, research conducted in France, the United States or Canada, as well as to explore what French sites (‘defined in the widest sense’) can teach us about ceramics. All avenues of analysis are welcomed, including the study of French or French colonial potteries, ceramic typologies, or material culture approaches that take into account the viewpoints of the producers, traders, consumers, or users of these ceramics. Ideally, this session will draw from diverse sources and provide an arena for discussion.