State of the art multi-analytical geoscientific approach to identify Cypriot Bichrome Wheelmade Ware reproduction in the Eastern Nile delta (Egypt)

Abstract

Bichrome Wheelmade Ware originally from Cyprus is under suspicion of being a local reproduction in the Eastern Nile Delta during the early 18th Dynasty (Late Bronze Age I). To elucidate this question, samples from Tell el-Dab ca (Egypt) and from Cyprus were examined in detail. Petrologic and geochemical analytical techniques including optical microscopy, XRD, XRF, ICP-MS, EPMA were applied in order to emphasize the differences and similarities of the two products. Micro-textures and mineral-phase reactions provide information about conditioning procedures of raw materials as well as firing-temperatures reached during pottery fabrication. Bulk major and trace element abundances and the chemical compositions of pyroxenes, feldspars and oxide-minerals allows the distinctive discrimination of the wares and the correlation with provenance-indicating reference material. The original Cypriot Bichrome Wheelmade Ware finds reflect high-level ceramic manufacturing technologies (including pre-conditioning of raw-materials and firing temperatures around 950–1000 °C); their decisive mineralogy and chemistry indicate East Cypriot sediments used for production. Phase reactions and the formation of secondary Ca-silicates like gehlenite and wollastonite make fine temperature estimates possible. The comparison of bulk-and mineral-chemistries to reference data from Cyprus reveals a good correlation with mafic and ultramafic sources together with the calcareous impact of the Kyrenia sediments. The imitational Bichrome Wheelmade Ware from Egypt reflects pottery made directly out of fine-grained Nile alluvia from the Eastern Nile Delta (probably near Tell el-Dab ca). From textural investigations and firing-temperature estimates (600–800 °C) a less refined fabrication process is evident.