Petrological characterization for material provenance of haniwa earthenware from mounded tombs in the Kibi region, Japan

Abstract

To determine the provenance of the materials used in the production of haniwa earthenware unearthed from mounded tombs (kofun) in the Kibi region (modern Okayama Prefecture) during the Kofun period (late 3rd – 6th century CE) of Japan, we carried out petrological analyses of haniwa sherds, including optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and electron-probe analysis. The 25 haniwa sherds analyzed from 12 representative mounded tombs are composed of mineral and rock inclusions with variable grain size set in a clay matrix. The dominant inclusions are quartz, K-feldspar, and plagioclase, associated with minor amounts of amphibole, volcanic glass, and granitic rocks in all the haniwa sherds, and small amounts of hornfels, quartz rock, and accessory minerals, including mica, ilmenite, and chromite, in some of the sherds. Amphibole and plagioclase have compositional variations indicative of the mixing of tephra and granitic components. The compositions of volcanic glass inclusions are similar to those of the Aira-Tanzawa and Kikai-Akahoya tephras widely distributed in southwestern Japan. Bulk chemical compositions show magmatic differentiation trends, which are variable between individual tombs. From these results, it is concluded that the paste materials of haniwa in the Kibi region were commonly derived from weathered granitic rocks mixed with minor amounts of three widespread tephras. The variations of chemical and mineralogical compositions are probably the reflection of local geologic settings, suggesting the presence of specific mining sites of paste materials around each tomb. The mining sites could be located at the bases of hills of granitic rocks covered by widespread tephras and in some cases, near the flood plain of big river systems.