Ownby Analytical, LLC

12/12/2025

Look, petrography in the news! Check out the blog post in Der Standard showcasing some results from my work with wonderful .d.ayers on the origins of the imported pottery at Tell Edfu. So honored that she has done an amazing job showcasing the research 😊
https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000299406/vom-libanon-nach-edfu-amphoren-als-zeugen-frueher-mittelmeerhandelsnetze

Tips: Non-German speakers can use the Google Translate browser extension. Use your phone rather than your computer, if the page says you need to register to view the blog. Registration is free, though.

10/10/2025

New article out: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03075133251372635
And you can download the pdf for free as it is open access 😲👏 This work was some of the hardest on-site analysis I have ever done as it was so hot!! So worth it and I really appreciated the opportunity. Thanks to Dr. Karin Sowada and Dr. Christian Knoblauch!

08/30/2025

Hi all,
Here is the video of the talk I gave to the Grant County Archaeological Society on "Science and Pottery: A Match Made in Clay". I discuss science in pottery studies, 4000 years of Egyptian trade with the Near East, and the curious case of Mimbres pottery in southwestern New Mexico. Enjoy!

08/23/2025

So delighted to be a part of this fantastic team doing really amazing research! I gave a small presentation on my part over Zoom and was glad to do so, just missed being there in person. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon. PS Sorry for the delay in posting!

08/18/2025

I'm giving a talk that will cover a bit about imported pottery to Egypt through time and also some of the work in the US Southwest. Join if you like or wait for the recording, ooooh😄

Once again our next meeting will be via ZOOM. On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 6:00PM: the GCAS welcomes archaeologist Mary F. Ownby PhD, recently returned from Egypt, who will discuss Science and Pottery: a Match Made in Clay. Dr. Ownby offers a comparison between Mimbres and Egyptian pottery techniques to illustrate the importance of scientific methods and their application across cultures and time.

The use of scientific techniques in Archaeology has a long history, particularly in regards to pottery. This talk presents an overview of science and pottery, and how critical evidence is acquired through various instruments. Two case studies will illustrate the process, one from pottery sourced to the Mimbres Valley, and the other pottery made along the Nile River in Egypt. The vast differences in how pottery was made and used in both areas shows the importance of scientific methods and their application across cultures and time.

Dr. Ownby is an Associate Researcher at the University of Arizona and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico. She currently runs her own archaeological analytical services company, Ownby Analytical, LLC. Dr. Ownby received her PhD in Archaeology from the University of Cambridge (U.K.) in 2010 with a research focus on scientific analysis of ceramics. She completed a MSc in Technology and Analysis of Archaeological Materials from University College London and a MA in Near Eastern Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. She has a BA in Anthropology from the University of Arizona.

Hop online about 5:45 to socialize and get settled.
A short meeting will begin at 6:00, followed by Mary's presentation, question and answers.
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Topic: Science and Pottery: A Match Made in Clay by Dr. Mary F. Ownby
Time: Aug 20, 2025 06:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86441880167?pwd=SbmwpxPuhJXY5QSLEVICZCByNaYyKz.1

Meeting ID: 864 4188 0167
Passcode: 273305
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05/09/2025

I was hoping to present this wonderful talk on research on pottery from Togo at the SAA meeting a few weeks ago, but life had other plans. Thankfully my good friend Isabelle Druc read my paper. So grateful to have wonderful colleagues and amazing research to enjoy!

01/19/2025

I'm excited to celebrate two years of Ownby Analytical, LLC!! I've been so fortunate to work on great projects with great people. One was done last October with .wodzinska.8 on pottery from Tell er-Retaba. This photo shows a painted jar from Cyprus! More fun lies ahead for 2025!

10/12/2024

A new article from a great collaboration! And free access for all to enjoy ☺

This article investigates the social landscape of the First Nile Cataract region in the 4th mill. BCE through the application of petrographic and technological approaches to pottery analysis. The study focuses on the ceramic assemblages from the settlement WK15 and the necropolis WK14 at Nag el-Qarm...

09/08/2024

I had the privilege to analyze 100 Rio Grande Glaze Ware sherds from Chilili Pueblo for Statistical Research, Inc., with funding from the New Mexico Department of Transportation (yes, DOT's do fund research!!). This contributes to a large body of research on this important ware. Now we have data from this small pueblo that shows variability in grog (crushed pottery fragments) and other inclusions. Who loves grog??!

08/20/2024

ANNOUNCEMENT: I am giving a webinar on "How to Integrate Instrumental Analyses of Artifacts into CRM Projects" through the American Cultural Resources Association . Even if you aren't in CRM it will provide a brief overview of major methods and how they benefit archaeology. Plus you can ask questions! Link to register is below, Thursday, August 22nd, at 2:00pm EST. Hope to see you there!
https://acra-crm.org/webinars-and-events/

07/13/2024

Only a few weeks ago I was analyzing phyllite pottery with this amazing microprobe! So glad the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory let this scroungy archaeologist use their fancy instrument for a few days. Now that I'm done, they can get back to important things, like asteroid Bennu samples 😲