Abstract
It is not generally known among archeologists that there is a universal, cross-cultural classification scheme for the repeated patterns occurring in such diverse media as textiles, pottery, basketry, wall decoration, and the art of M. C. Escher. In this paper we introduce this scheme by means of a “flowchart” which reduces the analysis of any particular pattern to a sequence of simple questions (mostly answered “yes” or “no”). We then apply it to the analysis of the decorated pipes excavated from the K2 site of the Kramo quarter of Begho (Ghana) in January-March, 1979, under the direction of Professor Merrick Posnansky. In the sequel we refer to this site as Begho K2.
The author is indebted to Ebenezer Quarcoopome and Doris Volkhardt for the drawings in Figures 3 and 16, respectively; to Elizabeth Vaughan and Dorothy Washburn for helpful comments and encouragement; and to Merrick Posnansky and the University Research Expeditions Program for making possible his participation in the Begho K2 dig.
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© 1981 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
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Crowe, D.W. (1981). The Geometry of African Art III. The Smoking Pipes of Begho. In: Davis, C., Grünbaum, B., Sherk, F.A. (eds) The Geometric Vein. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5648-9_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5648-9_11
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