What is TACB:
• TACB (Thissen Archaeological Ceramics Bureau) is an independent archaeological service bureau on a commercial basis providing reliable, prompt and comprehensive analyses and interpretation of your pottery, whether deriving from long-term excavations, rescue digs, surveys, museum storerooms or private collections
• Areas of expertise include SE Europe – Turkey – Syria
• Target periods are the Neolithic – Chalcolithic – Early Bronze Age from the first beginnings of pottery at about 7000 BC to the end of the 3rd millennium BC
• Standard methods of analysis include qualitative and quantitative assessment of fabrics, ware groups, types and vessel categories, motor-habit patterns and chains-opératoires…
• …as well as assessments of deposition patterns, degrees of abrasion and fragmentation
• Of course, the concept of analysis is open to discussion, and can be tailored according to the specific needs and programme of the client. Emphasis can be shifted, or special attention can be geared, is wished for
• Full reporting in English, inclusive of illustrations (graphics, inked line drawings, photographs)
• Besides this dedicated work, TACB offers practical tutorials and supervision in the basics of archaeological ceramic analysis and reporting
• Last but not least, TACB will be a rather new phenomenon in Balkan and Near Eastern archaeology. While commercial bureaus are a common thing now in large parts of Europe where salvage excavations are involved, this is not yet the case for SE Europe, Turkey or Syria . Also here, however, rescue digs are increasingly being carried out, and necessitate a speedy but comprehensive evaluation of the finds. Using TACB will help in resolving this issue as far as the pottery is concerned, and will guarantee full reporting on the work done
Who is TACB:
TACB (Thissen Archaeological Ceramics Bureau) was officially launched April 1st, 2006, and is run by Laurens Thissen, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Contact:
TACB - Dr. Laurens C. Thissen
2e Jan v/d Heydenstraat 86-2
1074 XZ Amsterdam
the Netherlands
Email: l.thissen@tiscali.nl
Phone: 00 31 20 6713767
Costs and practicalities:
While in the field, TACB is able to process an average of about 150 sherds per day (1 day = 8 full hours), provided they are washed and properly bagged. This assessment includes the drawing in pencil of selected sherds and the digital photographing of selected sherds.
Rates for work in the field and the final assessment back home including the reporting are the same, except that the fieldwork rates are to be augmented with costs for travel and boarding.
If you are interested in TACB and want to learn more about methods, costs, and practicalities, or if you think about commissioning TACB to tackle your ceramics, you are welcome to contact Laurens Thissen either by phone, email, or post. He will be happy to make an offer tailored to the analyses you want, and to discuss with you how to get the most out of the material for an affordable price.