1. a broken piece of pottery or ceramic ware, especially one found in an archaeological context
Usage: also spelled potsherd; commonly used in archaeology and anthropology

Examples

• The archaeologists carefully catalogued each potshard found at the dig site.
• Potshards scattered across the ground revealed evidence of an ancient settlement.
• By studying the decorative patterns on the potshards, researchers dated the pottery to the Bronze Age.
• The museum display featured potshards from various civilizations throughout history.
• Volunteers helped sift through soil to locate and preserve potshards for analysis.
• The broken potshard bore the maker's mark, providing clues about its origin.