Used, reused, broken, and dumped: Ceramics assemblages in archaeological context in the Bukhara Oasis

This paper adopts an inclusive analytical perspective on the varied ways in which ceramics are embedded in the archaeological record of the Bukhara Oasis. Rather than advancing a generic discussion of pottery, it seeks to identify region-specific models of ceramic biographies through a systematic examination of the diverse contexts and functions in which ceramic materials are encountered, both as complete vessels and in fragmentary form. The discussion is anchored in the ceramic evidence recovered during excavations conducted by the French–Uzbek Archaeological Mission in the Bukhara Oasis (MAFOUB) between 2009 and 2024. The present study does not aim to review the ceramic assemblage in its entirety, but rather focuses on selected categories of ceramic material and archaeological contexts that provide evidence for reuse, repurposing, and functional overlap. Our data accordingly derives from individual observations relating to complete or semi-complete pottery vessels as well as fragmented material and, in some cases other ceramic objects relevant to the discussion. The study pursues three interrelated objectives: first, to emphasise the multifaceted character of ceramics as archaeological evidence; second, to investigate potentially distinctive patterns of use, reuse, and discard; and third, to assess how different life cycles and formation processes shape both chronological reconstruction and broader archaeological interpretation.