Repairing a Break with the Past: Considering Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Ceramic Repair in Newfoundland and Labrador

The simultaneously durable and fragmentary nature of ceramics contributes to their entry to the archaeological record. It is often assumed that, once broken, the ceramic vessel lost its functionality and would have been discarded; however, the use-life of these vessels was often extended beyond the initial breakage. Ceramic repair is understudied within archaeological research, and when it is discussed, it is framed as a one-off event attributed to cultural traditions, restrictions to access, or a lack of means. This paper examines examples of mended ceramics recovered from Newfoundland and Labrador to critically evaluate these explanations within this context, and provides some thoughts for considering these artifacts in the future.