Pottery Samples Research Articles

The Transformation of Form and Function on Pottery of Banyumulek Lombok

The pottery of banyumulek Lombok has existed since ancient times, dating back to the Sasak kingdom, and continues to the present day. This study aims to analyze the transformation of form and function in Banyumulek Lombok pottery. Qualitative research uses data collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The pottery samples were collected purposively. The data analysis method uses the Miles and Huberman model, which involves data reduction, display, and conclusion drawing. The research findings show hat before 1988, the appearance of Banyumulek Lombok pottery needed to be more varied and was used solely for daily household purposes. After 1988, variations on form began emerge, and today, there are numerous forms with various creative designs.

Technological choices and practices of Early Bronze Age pottery production in the Central Plains: Focusing on the sites of Xinzhai and Huadizui

Aspects of the Early Bronze Age (ca. 2050–1640 BCE) pottery production technology and knowledge transfer in the Central Plains of China (i.e., the Zhengzhou-Luoyang area) were studied. To this aim, 120 domestic pottery samples and ten geological samples from two central sites at Xinzhai and Huadizui were studied macroscopically and analysed with X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Based on a discussion of macroscopical evidence and chemical composition, the results tentatively indicate the technological knowledge transfer between the potters in Xinzhai and Huadizui sites despite being located about 80 km apart. Pottery of the same category was manufactured with similar selection and preparation strategies of ceramic raw materials, decorated with similar patterns, and adopted similar forming techniques. More specifically, the cookware from the Xinzhai and Huadizui sites was hand-made and Ca-poor, while the storage- and drinking wares were wheel-made and Ca-rich. These results likely indicate the existence of one overarching community of practice, potters located at Xinzhai and Huadizui, who shared strategies for raw materials selection, paste preparation, and finishing.

Pottery evolution pattern discovery based on deep learning: case study of Miaozigou culture in China

Potteries, one of the tools widely used by early humans, encapsulates rich historical information. Deep neural networks have been applied to analyzing pottery digital images, bypassing the need for intricate handcrafted features. However, existing models focus solely on pottery shape comparison, neglecting the analysis of their evolution across different historical periods. In this work, we propose a method based on deep learning to assist experts in identifying the evolutionary patterns of a given pottery type within their specified chronological divisions. First we train a convolutional neural network for pottery classification, extracting low and high level features that represent different ages of pottery samples. Next, we employ clustering algorithms to identify representative potteries for each historical period based on high level features. To facilitate intuitive comparisons across different ages, we use shallow features and compute cosine similarities between potteries, visualizing shape and decoration differences. This approach enhances understanding of pottery evolution patterns directly through visual analysis. The effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed method are evaluated by validating it on three distinct era division cases using data from the Dabagou and Miaozigou archaeological sites, which represent the Miaozigou culture and exhibit clear evolutionary patterns. Our method identifies representative artifacts for each era and uncovers their evolutionary patterns effectively and efficiently, achieving conclusions comparable to those of experts while significantly reducing time compared to traditional manual methods.

Quantitative elemental analysis and petrographic investigation of ancient potteries from archaeological sites of Tamil Nadu, using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy

In order to investigate the elemental composition, a total of 19 potteries and two representative clay samples from Senjikothamangalam (Villupuram district) and 12 potteries and one representative clay sample from the Palayanur (Chengalpattu) archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu were analyzed using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The presence of elements such as Fe, Ca, K, Ti, Al, Sr, Mn, P, V, Cr, Zn, Rb, Ni, Cu, Pb, Ga, Y, Bi, Br, and As were identified in the pottery and clay samples. Statistical analysis, such as Pearson correlation, cluster and principal component analysis were used to categorize the samples based on their elemental composition. The outcome of the Pearson correlation and cluster analysis corroborated that the Senjikothamangalam pottery samples (P-1 to P-19) were made using the same type of clay, except P-10. Similarly, all Palayanur pottery samples (P-20 to P-31) were manufactured from the same clay. The petrographic analysis of the potteries revealed further information about its provenance and making methods.

Study on Production Characteristics and Change in Production Location of Pottery Excavated from DongOe-dong Site in Goseong

As a result of scientific analysis of 26 pottery excavated from the DongOe-dong site in Goseong, pottery with various firing degrees was confirmed, ranging from low-firing pottery with mica minerals detected to high-firing pottery with high-temperature minerals such as cristobalite and mullite detected. In addition, low-firing pottery has an absorption rate of 9.7∼25.8% and generally shows high saturation value. On the other hand, high-firing pottery has low absorption rate and saturation value, so the physical characteristics of the pottery show a high correlation with the group classified by XRD analysis. Pottery with a low firing degree commonly contains fine-grained mineral particles and has a similar composition of trace elements such as Rb, Ba, and Sr. And they were most abundantly excavated from the No. 1-1 moat. However it was confirmed that there is a difference in the production area because compositions of the rare earth elements are distributed in two areas in the graph. High&intermediate-firing pottery samples are observed to have a vitrified base matrix and relatively less temper minerals. And their contents of Rb, Sr, and Ba are significantly different from low-firing pottery. In the composition of rare earth elements, they are all distributed in same area as one of the separated areas of low-firing pottery, so it is highly likely these pottery were produced in the same or nearby production region regardless of the firing degree. As a result of checking up the composition of rare earth elements according to the archaeological chronology of pottery, it is estimated that there was a change in the production region of the pottery introduced into the DongOe-dong site around 250 AD.

New chronology evidence of prehistoric human activities indicated by pottery luminescence dating in the humid subtropical mountains of South China

The age of prehistoric human sites serves as a fundamental basis for studying the relationship between human activities and landscape changes in the humid subtropical mountains of South China. The presence of pottery in these archaeological sites is widespread and offers a valuable resource for precise dating purposes. The Longtoushan (LTS) site, located in the northern mountains of Fujian Province, contains a rich variety of pottery types from various periods, representing a rare multi-period stratigraphic overlap in this area and playing a crucial role in constructing the cultural sequence and lineage of prehistoric and ancient times in this region. In this study, we employed thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques to establish the age of pottery samples collected from the LTS site situated in the upper Minjiang River region of southeast China for the first time, while also comparing our findings with other dating methods to construct a chronological framework for the site. The results showed that: (1) The samples analyzed in this study can be classified according to the peak strength of 325 °C TL signal at natural and regenerative doses of quartz. Samples with weak TL signal at 325 °C (type II samples) showed high recuperation and equivalent dose underestimation at a low preheat temperature (220 °C) in OSL test. (2) Conventional SAR procedures employed for type I samples are not suitable for type II samples. Type II samples require additional OSL stimulation towards the end of the cycle and an extended stimulation duration. (3) The application of various dating methods has revealed that the LTS site represents a long-term settlement in the humid subtropical mountains of South China, commencing around 4.6–4.4 thousand years ago (ka). Specifically, the dating of pottery pieces from kiln sites and tombs in the late Neolithic period provides a specific temporal reference for further understanding of prehistoric human culture and production behavior in the humid mountains of Fujian.

Archaeometric analysis of pottery sherds from Barveh Tepe: Insights into Early Bronze Age pottery‐making techniques and firing temperatures

AbstractBarveh Tepe, an archaeological site from the Early Bronze Age in the Zagros Mountains of Iran, was the focus of an archaeometric analysis in this study. The aim was to evaluate the firing temperature of excavated pottery sherds from Barveh Tepe and to gain insights into the pottery‐making techniques employed. A range of analytical methods, including optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), was utilized to characterize the pottery sherds. The results revealed the utilization of two primary types of raw clays: calcite‐rich (calcareous) and calcite‐poor (non‐calcareous). The presence of calcite in calcareous pottery samples was confirmed, with the calcareous pottery showing a low CO3−2 vibrational band, indicating a low firing temperature. Through the integration of SEM images, FTIR spectra, TGA curve and XRD pattern results, the estimated firing temperature range for Barveh Tepe pottery was determined to be between 600 and 1100°C. These findings provide new insights into the pottery‐making practices of the Early Bronze Age and shed light on the technological advancements of the period.

A micro-geoarchaeological look at adaptive and glocal socio-economic aspects: the case of Middle Bronze Age Tel Dor, Israel

Adaptative mechanisms used by coastal urban Middle Bronze Age (MBA) settlements in the southern Levant are regularly studied from the point of view of maritime connectivity. Here we look into the adaptive mechanisms of MBA Tel Dor by investigating the utilization of geogenic (rock, soil, sediment) resources for construction — materials used for wall foundations, mudbrick superstructure and wall plaster — and for pottery making. The composition and fabric of archaeological materials were compared to those of local natural sediments from two boreholes. The results show that stones for wall construction relied on the local kurkar, that red-coloured mudbricks were produced from local Carmel coast sediments, while beige-coloured mudbricks were produced by mixing local red sediments with non-coastal calcareous rock fragments, and that wall plaster was made of non-coastal geogenic marl. From a small pilot sample of pottery, six petrofabrics were identified, including the local Carmel coast, along with five other, distant, production centres. These characteristics suggest that while the site’s inhabitants utilized local resources, they were firmly interconnected with regional, ‘global’, Mediterranean networks, suggesting MBA Dor was a glocalized society, and that diversification of resources served as a promotor of resilience for this coastal society, allowing it to thrive for millennia.

Archaeological Collections from the Jōmon Period in the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera)

This article presents an analysis and additional description of archaeological items of the Jōmon period from A.V. Grigoriev’s collection (No. 1294) at the Department of Archaeology of the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) RAS in St. Petersburg. The study focuses on the description of decorative motifs and the stylistic attribution of selected samples of pottery. The analysis is based on the published data about the Ōmori shell mound (Tokyo, Honshu Island), visited by Grigoriev in 1878 as a part of the expedition from the Imperial Russian Geographical Society. The early stage of the Japanese archaeology is described with reference to the Ōmori shell mound. Special attention is given to specific features of the Jōmon decorative style. The geographic location of the site suggests that the samples are associated with the Kasori B and Horinouchi styles. Contrary to the Russian tradition, the emphasis is made on stylistic interpretation rather than technology and typology. The combinations of large zonally arranged rectangular designs and spiral motifs are typical of the Kasori B style, to which several samples belong. Others reveal vertically and horizontally arranged patterns consisting of incised arcuate and straight lines, typical of the Horinouchi style.

From Hellenistic slipped tableware to Roman Imperial Sagalassos Red Slip Ware: A petrographic and geochemical study

This paper offers new insights from the petrographic and geochemical characterisation of 92 pottery samples from the archaeological site of Sagalassos in SW Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). The sampled table wares form part of the Hellenistic to Roman Imperial local pottery production lines. The aim of this study is to reconstruct in more detail the tableware production at the site and examine Sagalassos Red Slip Ware (SRSW) in comparison with the pre-existing Hellenistic tradition in slipped pottery. The results suggest that Hellenistic Colour Coated Ware (CCW) and Gray Ware with Black Slip (GWBS) were locally produced at the site using the same raw materials as the ones used for the subsequent mass-produced Sagalassos Red Slip Ware (SRSW), namely clays from the nearby NW parts of the valley of Çanaklı. SRSW appears thus as a continuation of the Hellenistic tradition in slipped pottery at Sagalassos, at least as far as some choices for clay raw materials are concerned. At the same time, this study provides for the first time evidence of regional production of a type of eastern sigillata that appears macroscopically similar to SRSW, while the number of identified imported wares to the polis of Sagalassos contributes new evidence to the discussion on the production of GWBS in the wider region of Anatolia and the origin of Eastern Sigillata A (ESA). Using the site of Sagalassos as a case-study, this research aims to demonstrate the importance of the analytical examination of pottery in a longue durée perspective in order to reconstruct ceramic traditions and better understand the local and regional sociocultural mechanisms behind them.

Thermal, Morphological, and mineralogical characterization of ancient potsherds: Insights from activation energy and degradation profiles

The six representative potsherds sourced from the excavated Buddhist site of Udayagiri, Odisha, in eastern India, were studied using analytical characterization techniques of X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), thermogravimetry (TG-DTG), and a porosity study. The analysis has unveiled the clay composition, firing temperatures, and environment along with internal morphology of these potsherds after firing process. The thermal behavior of the pottery samples was meticulously examined and degradation profiles depicted through TG-DTG curve. The activation energy of potsherds was calculated using the Horowitz and Metzger equation, shedding light on the various stages of degradation. Notably, the calculated activation energies for the first stage of degradation ranged from 5.78 to 16.64 kJ/Mole, while for the 2nd/3rd stage degradation, the range was between 2.59 KJ/Mole to 8.38 KJ/Mole, underlining the intricate firing processes involved. This research has successfully estimated firing temperatures across different environmental conditions, spanning from 450 to 900 °C. The pottery fragments were categorized into two distinct varieties following a comprehensive analysis of firing temperature, inclusions, morphological characteristics, firing conditions, and degradation profiles. The multifaceted approach employed in this study has contributed significantly to our understanding of these potsherds' composition and their firing profile.

The Ethnoarchaeology of Restaurants in Southern Vietnam: Fish Stew Culinary Practices and Organic Residues in Earthenware Cooking Pots

ABSTRACT Ethnoarchaeological studies of food and culinary practices are typically conducted in communities and households that still practice traditional ways of food preparation and consumption. This article presents ethnoarchaeological research in small, contemporary restaurants in Vietnam that serve cá kho tộ, a braised caramelized fish stew prepared in earthenware cooking pots. Comparative reference samples of pottery were collected from the restaurants for organic residue analysis, and the results were compared with residue analysis of pottery sherds recovered from archaeological sites in Southern Vietnam. The results contribute novel insights to both ancient and present-day culinary practices in the region and to the study of open earthenware pots and pottery sherds with interior surface charred residues.

Radiation dangers in Iranian ceramic samples in local markets

This research aims to determine the exact levels of activity for Uranium-238, Thorium-232, and Potassium-40 in Iranian pottery samples acquired from the marketplaces of Al-Najaf governorate. The study also seeks to evaluate possible radiological dangers, such as absorbed dose rate, yearly effective dose (indoors), and the related cancer risk from these samples. The current work used NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectroscopy with a “3× 3” dimension. The mean specific activity levels of Uranium-238, Thorium-232, and Potassium-40 were 30.44±5.22 Bq/kg, 6.35±1.11 Bq/kg, and 278.42±51.83 Bq/kg, respectively. The absorbed radiation rate, yearly effective dose (indoor), and cancer risk×10-3 were measured to be 29.51±4.86 nGy/h, 0.14±0.02 mSv/y, and 0.50±0.08, respectively. The activity levels of Uranium-238, Thorium-232, and Potassium-40 are generally lower than the global average, as reported by UNSCEAR 2008. However, there are a few samples where Uranium-238 activity exceeds the global average. All samples have radiological dangers below acceptable levels, as stated in the radiation protection publications UNSCEAR2000 and ICRP1994. Hence, the research findings are within the internationally accepted permitted limits, ensuring safety.

Introduction of the potter’s wheel as a reflection of social and economic changes during the La Tène period in Central Europe

This study focuses on the introduction of pottery-forming methods employing rotational motion in relation to social and economic conditions and their transformations during the La Tène period in Central Europe. It explores the diversity of technological practices on a broader geographical scale in several regions of the Czech Republic with various demographic, social, and environmental conditions during this period. The study is based on the idea that a technological process is a cultural trait whose adoption is the result of a cultural selection. These interactions are facilitated by the performances of the technological process and its products. The technological analysis relies on a recently developed quantitative analytical technique based on calculating the orientation of components of the ceramic body supplemented by qualitative classification of diagnostic features observed on X-ray images and CT reconstructions. By applying the methodology to an extensive collection of pottery samples, we have obtained a robust picture of the adoption and spread of different variants of the application of rotational motion. Based on this evidence, we proposed evolutionary scenarios that show the unique interplay of the performances of the individual variants of this general innovative idea with specific local socio-cultural conditions.

Interregional and intraregional interaction of the Tianshanbeilu population in eastern Xinjiang from the perspective of pottery analysis

The beginning of human settlement in the Hami Basin, located in the eastern part of Xinjiang, has been a focal question for the academic community in China. In particular, the thesis that the immigrating population from the Hexi Corridor since the late Neolithic founded the Tianshanbeilu culture has riveted the attention of scholars. Pottery wares, abundantly discovered at the synonymous cemetery of this culture, have played a key role in extrapolating population migration and cultural interaction. This paper aims to test the thesis by characterizing the chemical composition, painting pigment, and carburizing technique of 70 pottery samples from the cemetery with various scientific methods. It shows that the chemical compositions of the coarse pottery in the three colors of red, yellow, and gray, painted and unpainted alike, are remarkably different from those of fine pottery in black and red, indicating that the raw materials for the coarse and fine pottery samples are possibly procured from different sources; the pigments of the red slip and black paint are derived from hematite, black manganese ore, and carbon black; carburizing and polishing techniques are further applied to the gray coarse pottery; In combination with the compositional data of pottery samples from the Yaer cemetery also in the Hami Basin and the Xichengyi settlement in the Hexi Corridor, this paper finds that some pottery wares of the Tianshanbeilu culture were exchanged within the Hami Basin, but each site had its own production facility. No direct exchange of pottery wares with Xichengyi is attested; the similar style of pottery wares between the two sites may have resulted from population migration and technological exchange.

The Armenian-Italian Joint Expedition to Dvin Report of 2022 Activities

This report aims to show the results of the second excavation campaign at Dvin/Dabīl (Armenia), conducted by the Italian-Armenian research group in Autumn 2022. The excavations involved three areas in distinct sectors of the city: the southern portion of the Lower Fortress, where the 2021 square was deepened and enlarged; the so-called ‘Market’ area, where the 2021 excavations were expanded and a micro-stratigraphic trench was opened; the area southeast of the central district, where an exploratory trench was dug to investigate the archaeological evidence at the site of the future building of the Dvin Museum. Additionally, the last paragraph shows the chemical analysis of pottery samples carried out between 2021 and 2022.

Study on distribution of radionuclides in soil and pottery samples of archaeological sites of eastern India

Study on distribution of radionuclides in soil and pottery samples of archaeological sites of eastern India

Morphological analysis of pottery based on the turning function using photogrammetry

Geometric morphometry is a method used to analyse the morphological characteristics of research objects and has many applications in biological analysis. With the development of 3D digital technology, geometric morphometry is widely used on 3D models. The pottery samples were obtained from the Ganguya site (1850 and 1500 BCE) in Gansu Province. Three-dimensional models of the pottery were obtained by photogrammetry, and the outline curves of the pottery were extracted. The outline curves were converted into angles by a turning function, and four characteristic indices were extracted according to the features of the angle function curve. Two principal components were extracted, and the samples were divided into three categories by the K-means clustering algorithm. The characteristics and differences of the three categories were analysed. The turning function provides a new method for generating an outline in geometric morphometry and a new perspective for the study of pottery morphology.

Prehistoric human activities and environmental background during the Late Neolithic to Bronze period in the Minjiang River Basin, Southeast China, based on luminescence ages and chemical elemental analysis of pottery

The Minjiang River Basin in Fujian played a vital role in the southward spread of agriculture in China. To better understand the development of Neolithic cultures in this region and the interactions between the people of Southeast China and their environment, as well as the formation and development of agricultural civilizations in East Asia, this study focused on determining the luminescence ages of nine pottery/burnt clay samples and measuring 33 trace elements in 38 pottery/burnt clay and 15 sediment samples collected from the Minjiang River Basin. The reliability of determining luminescence age using heated quartz was also investigated. By combining the characteristics of trace elements with the background of prehistoric human environments, this study aimed to explore the relationships between humans and the environment and cultural interactions during the late Neolithic period in the Minjiang River Basin. The results showed that some pottery samples displayed a higher proportion of medium and slow components in their initial quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signals, but most OSL ages were not affected. The ages of the pottery samples were concentrated during stable environmental periods characterized by relatively high sea levels, elevated surface sea temperatures, and low El Niño–Southern Oscillation occurrence frequencies. The chemical composition and principal component analysis suggested that the majority of pottery samples were locally sourced, while pottery from coastal islands may have originated from upstream areas of the Minjiang River. This indicates that there was cultural exchange in the Minjiang River Basin during the Neolithic culture period, rather than being limited to the local living. Differences in subsistence patterns could serve as a driving force behind cross-regional cultural exchanges, which likely deepened over time.

A Group of Mycenaean Pottery From Selçuk Ayasuluk Hill

The aim of this study is to compare a group of Mycenaean pottery found on Selçuk Ayasuluk Hill with different centers and to evaluate their similarity and the usage process in the settlement in general terms. First of all, Mycenaean pottery used in the study will be introduced by giving their characteristics one by one, and the settlements and periods with similar ones in the Aegean World will be explained. The Mycenaean pottery recovered from Ayasuluk Hill will be evaluated in terms of method in comparison with the Mycenaean pottery found in settlements in Continental Greece, Aegean Islands, Western Anatolia and East Mediterranean. The Mycenaean pottery on the Ayasuluk Hill, which is the subject of the study, are evaluated within the LH IIIA-IIIC periods. This situation reveals the importance of Mycenaean pottery in being preferred in the settlement and shows that the connections between the Aegean World and Ayasuluk Hill have spread over a long period of time. This chronological continuity in Mycenaean pottery in the settlement is similar to many centers where Mycenaean pottery was found in Western Anatolia. When we continue with the Mycenaean pottery samples of Ayasuluk Hill, which is the subject of the study, it is seen that there are similarities with the pottery found in many centers in Greece and the Aegean Islands. In Western Anatolia, it is possible to compare some examples from centers such as Troy, Miletos and Iasos with the Mycenaean pottery on Ayasuluk Hill.