Pottery Samples Research Articles

URARTIAN RED BURNISHED POTTERY FROM DİYARBAKIR MUSEUM

Urartian Kingdom has not only become known by its organized state structure, advanced architecture, irrigation system, superior quality metal workmanship but also has become known by its red burnished potteries, which imitate metallic pots. Potteries’ pastes, which were given shape at paddle wheels by expert potters, were prepared by using very well sieved clay and sometimes by using additive small piece of sand. Slip, which were usually red and tones of red, were applied before drying in the kiln. The other operation that was realized before the stage of drying in the kiln was burnishing. After a good quality drying, possibly by getting polished with a soft material like leather, their surfaces were provides even and smooth and therefore, there was not any difference in the apparition of the metallic pots. It is known that this pottery was used during whole Urartian history, as well as there was not any pioneer of this pottery, before Urartian Kingdom in the region, and it is known that it was vanished after the collapse of the Kingdom. The good quality samples of the red burnished Urartian pottery that was encountered in similar forms and producing techniques and was used intensely for a long period of time in the large area that was spread by Urartian Kingdom, found among the samples, which are subject to the article, and found in the Museum of Diyarbakır, where they had reached there through the purchase that were done with Van Region. The total of 14 vessels that are introduced, have different shapes and they are typically an Urartian manufatures. Forms are composed from Bowls (Pl. Ia-b; IIa), Plate (Pl.IIb), Stemmed Goblets (Pl. IIIa-b), Trefoil Jugs (Pl. IVa-b; Va), Single Handled Cup (Pl. Vb), Jars (Pl. VIa-b; VIIa) and Small Jar (Pl.VIIb). Fourteen Urartian pots that are included in this work, although their exact places, statuses and dates are unknown, enrich other red burnished potteries came into light until now and even contribute to rarely known form

Archaeometrical analysis of Neolithic pottery from the Divača region, Slovenia

The results of the mineralogical and chemical analyses of pottery from the Neolithic period from the Divača region are presented. Pottery samples from two rock shelters, i.e. Mala Triglavca and Trhlovca, were included in the analyses, as well as sediment samples from other rock shelters, caves and rivers around this area. The mineralogical and chemical composition of the ceramic is uniform in most of the samples; the differences between the clay pastes of the vessels are in the use of a tempering material, mostly calcite grains. The sediment samples, especially from the cave deposits, point to a local production of the Neolithic pottery on the Karst plateau.

Analysis of Ancient Pottery from Tel Al‐Baharia Site in Damascus, Syria

The radioisotope x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) method has been utilized in the analysis of forty archaeological pottery fragment samples from the Tel Al‐Baharia site, Damascus City, Syria. The samples were irradiated by a 109Cd radioisotope source (∼9 × 108 Bq) for 1000 sec. Eighteen chemical elements (K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, and Pb) were determined. These elemental concentrations have been processed using two multivariate statistical methods. The purpose of the analysis was to characterize, by means of element contents, the pre‐historical pottery raw material sources from the Tel Al‐Baharia archaeological site. The results obtained by factor score confirm that the pottery samples classified by cluster analysis (CA) are correctly classified. In this study, most of the samples could be divided into four categories. The results provided persuasive evidence that Tel Al‐Baharia pottery used at least four different clay sources. Moreover, by means of a systematic local clay analysis, it will be clear whether these sources are local or not.

PIGMENT IDENTIFICATION IN GREEK POTTERY BY RAMAN MICROSPECTROSCOPY*

Raman microspectroscopy (RMS) is now established as a key technique for the identification of pigments of archaeological pottery that permits the in situ study of art objects by a non‐destructive procedure. The information obtained represents a great aid to restoration and conservation techniques. In this work, the chemical nature of the red, black and white pigments of five samples of Greek pottery from the end of the fifth century and the first half of the fourth century bc, exhumed from the Iberian necropolis of Cabezo Lucero (Guardamar del Segura, Alicante, Spain), has been identified. The black and the red pigments are found to be magnetite (Fe3O4) and hematite (α‐Fe2O3), respectively. The white pigment is found, for the first time, to be composed of alumina (α‐Al2O3 and γ‐Al2O3) probably yielded by the thermal decomposition of Greek bauxite.

ARCHAEOMETRIC ANALYSES ON ‘CORINTHIAN B’ TRANSPORT AMPHORAE FOUND AT GELA (SICILY, ITALY)*

The aim of this work is to throw light on the archaic production of ‘Corinthian B’ amphorae, which are widely diffused in the Western Mediterranean basin and are also present in Greece, but whose geographical provenance is still under discussion. We analysed a group of 37 samples belonging to different ceramic classes dated to the sixth and fifth centuries bc. In particular, there were 19 sherds of trade amphorae of the so‐called archaic ‘Corinthian B’ type, from archaeological excavations in Gela (Sicily, Italy). As a comparison, we also investigated 18 samples of tiles and local coarse pottery from Sibari (Calabria, Italy). The samples were analysed using different techniques, such as optical analysis with a polarized‐light microscope (OM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform–infrared absorption (FT–IR) and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES). The combination of these complementary analytical methods allowed us to characterize the samples, determine their firing temperatures and identify the probable provenance. The study of thin sections of sherds by OM allowed us to divide the investigated amphorae into two main groups: the first was characterized by a composition that suggested a Western provenance, in particular from the Calabrian–Peloritan region; the second one was very similar to the ‘Corinthian B’ amphorae that come from Corinth and have been classified as ‘fabric class 1’ by Whitbread (1995 ). The XRD and FT–IR results permitted us to determine the mineral composition of the findings and to estimate their firing temperature. The ICP–OES technique was particularly useful in identifying the production centres. In fact, in the studied pottery, this analysis revealed Ni and Cr values that were noticeably different between Greek and southern Italian production.

Implications of burial alterations on luminescence dating of archaeological ceramics

Recent mineralogical studies on archaeological pottery samples report significant variations in alkali metal concentrations due to environmental alterations during burial. Here we examine the effects of potassium (K) leaching on luminescence dating. The effect on the estimation of the dose rate is studied by considering four models of leaching (exponential, linear, early and late) and their impact on fine- and coarse-grain dating are calculated. The modeling approaches are applied to two cases of pottery in which evidence for alteration was found. Additionally, TL dating performed on pottery of one of the studied cases, indicates the importance of leaching effects on absolute dating measurements.

The multivariate statistical analysis and XRD analysis of pottery at Xigongqiao site

A series of pottery samples excavated from the Xigongqiao site in Tengzhou city of Shandong province was determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Together with excavation data and archaeological analysis, the potential for provenance and technology of unearthed ancient pottery was studied by using multivariate statistical analysis and X-ray powder diffraction pattern (XRD) analysis. In order to characterize and classify these earthenware samples, the major and minor/trace element concentrations were studied with both cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The results showed that there were three different groups in cluster analysis dendrogram in good correlation with their colors. This indicated that the potteries were made from clays of different composition. These results were in agreement with the results of principal component analysis. XRD analysis further assessed the validity of multivariate statistical analysis.

The Provenance of Red Figure Vases From Locri Epizephiri (Southern Italy): New Evidence by Chemical Analysis

Thirty‐nine samples of red figure pottery found at Locri Epizephiri were analysed for 18 chemical elements by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. The finds, dated from the end of the sixth to the fourth century bc, were assigned to Attic, Sicilian and Locrian workshops due to their style of execution. Prior to facing the archaeological questions, possible biases on sample classification due to variable firing conditions, or to alteration during burial, were investigated: the results supported the opportunity of a refiring pre‐treatment. Multivariate statistical treatment of the analytical data confirms the separation between Attic and non‐Attic samples; comparison with the composition of black gloss pottery suggests that all the non‐Attic red figure vases could be the output of Locrian workshops.

Black Gloss Pottery: Production Sites and Technology in Northern Etruria, Part I: Provenance Studies

The object of the present study is an assemblage of 149 black gloss pottery samples found in northern Etruria (Tuscany, Italy), at Arezzo, Volterra, Chiusi and Populonia. Complete chemical analyses have been performed for the whole set of samples, whereas mineralogical characterization has been provided for most of the Volterra, Chiusi and Populonia samples. The Chiusi‐Marcianella production site has been the further object of a detailed study aimed at the creation of a complete reference group. Moreover, several trade routes have been reconstructed, shedding light on the import and export of these ceramics from inland Etruria to the coast and vice versa.

Clay paste mixtures identified by Neutron Activation Analysis in pottery of a Roman workshop in Bonn, Germany

A series of four well-defined elemental patterns found among pottery of a Roman workshop site at Bonn could be identified as mixtures of two initial components in different mixing ratios. The detection method for such mixtures and its application to a databank of 137 chemical patterns, which have been found in the Bonn Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) databank of 2520 samples of pottery from Germany, is described. Finally, the possibilities of obtaining additional information by identifying groups as paste mixtures are discussed.

PIXE study on ancient pottery from Chinese Sanxia area

Thirty-nine pieces of Neolithic pottery, made about 4500 years ago, were collected from Maliutuo, Maliuwan and Suheping village sites in Chinese Sanxia area. Nine pieces of pottery in the Shang Dynasty (1600–1100 BC) and ten pieces of pottery in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770–256 BC) were also collected from Maliutuo. PIXE and factor analysis were used to study interchange of the Neolithic pottery between these three sites. The source of raw material of pottery from Maliutuo was simultaneously studied. The major and trace element contents in pottery were determined by PIXE. Factor analysis was employed to classify these pieces of pottery. The results showed that the trace element contents were more useful to distinguish these pieces of pottery than the major element contents. In about 2500 BC, no interchange of pottery occurred between the three villages. Although Maliutuo was close to Maliuwan, the pottery products used in daily life in the two villages were independently made and not exchanged. In the source of raw material, the Neolithic pottery samples from Maliutuo were identical with those in the Shang Dynasty, but different from those in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.

AMS 14C Dating Using Black Pottery and Fiber Pottery

A technique of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) has made it possible to directly measure radiocarbon ages of pottery by isolating organic materials sealed in the pottery when the pottery was formed. We analyzed the carbon contents and 14C ages for “black pottery” from the Philippines and “fiber pottery” from Japan using the relevant carbonaceous materials extracted from the pottery samples, i.e., adhered chaff or grass fibers that were incorporated in the pottery matrix, respectively. The carbon yield of the pottery sample varied largely depending on the pottery types, the preservation conditions, as well as the chemical pretreatment methods to purify carbonaceous materials for 14C dating. We will discuss criteria for sample selection of well-preserved pottery, and a modified method, instead of the standard alkali treatment, to obtain sufficient material for precise 14C dating.

Neutron activation analysis of Urartian pottery from eastern Anatolia

A total of 275 pottery and clay samples from Urartian period sites in eastern Anatolia were analyzed by INAA. The pottery sample originates primarily from the fortress and Outer Town at Ayanis and also includes samples from nearby sites in the Lake Van basin. A small sample of pottery from Bastam, a contemporary Urartian fortress in northwest Iran, and Kef Kalesi, a site on the north shore of Lake Van were also analyzed. Ten distinct compositional groups were identified during the course of the analysis suggesting that pottery was produced at multiple locations throughout the Urartian kingdom. In addition to identifying multiple production locales, we document the long-distance movement of pottery from the sites of Kef Kalesi and Bastam into the Van Basin and the movement of pottery from Ayanis to Bastam.

Estimation of Firing Temperature and Compositional Variability of Archaeological Pottery by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

ABSTRACTDigital Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), a thermal characterization technique, can be used to rapidly obtain a rough upper estimate of the firing temperature of archaeological pottery as well as an indication of its composition. The technique involves heating a small sample (10–20 mg) of ground ceramic above the vitrification temperature, cooling and reheating. The curves of the two heating cycles are then compared. The validity of the technique was evaluated by a blind test in which 35 tiles fired at different temperatures were analyzed without knowing their firing point, and by analysis of archaeological pottery samples assumed to be local or imported based upon stylistic criteria.

WHERE DID THE LUSTRE TILES OF THE SIDI OQBA MOSQUE (ad 836–63) IN KAIROUAN COME FROM?*

Metallic lustre decoration of glazed ceramics is a very special kind of ornament, because its colours change with the observational conditions. In diffused light, they can be green, brown or ochre–yellow. In specular reflection, they show an associated coloured metallic shine (blue, golden‐yellow or orange). The lustre tiles at the Sidi Oqba Mosque in Kairouan still have no defined origin (possibly Kairouan and/or Mesopotamia). Physicochemical analyses of eight Kairouan lustre tile samples and four Mesopotamian lustre pottery samples show that the Kairouan tiles probably came from Mesopotamia, from a major production centre, possibly Baghdad, Samarra or Basra.

Preparation of Ancient Pottery Samples for Electron-Beam Characterization

Preparation of Ancient Pottery Samples for Electron-Beam Characterization

Investigation of incrusted pottery found in the territory of Hungary by micro-PIXE method

Incrusted pottery samples from the territory of Hungary were analyzed by micro-PIXE technique. Measurements were executed on the front and back side of the samples and inside the incrustations too. We succeeded to group the pottery from different regions and periods by the composition of the ornament. It was concluded that the elemental composition of the ornament may be characteristic to the provenance of the pottery. In case of samples from Vörs-Máriaasszonysziget the presence of a kind of grit in the incrustations with high calcium and phosphorus content was established. The material of the grit is presumably bone. Samples from other archaeological localities can be described by incrustations with different compositions. Incrustations in the samples from Balatonfüzö are presumably composed of limestone (CaCO 3), from Baradla cave (Aggtelek) probably of white clay paste (kaolinite). It was also concluded that the red color of the ornaments of some sample from Baradla cave is caused by hematite.

Observations sur le matériau céramique de la Culture de Cerny et du Chasséen provenant de sites de la moyenne vallée de l'Oise

Pottery samples from one Cerny Culture site and three Chasséen sites in the Oise valley are examined. From the Cerny onwards one notes a new mastery of firing temperatures, producing sherds in an early stage of vitrification and vessels of greater solidity. The use of local materials widely available near the sites, both for clay and temper, is not in contradiction as far as the latter is concerned with the cultural development of technical practices observed on a broader regional scale.

A multidisciplinary investigation on archaeological excavation in Messina (Sicily). Part I: a comparison of pottery findings in “the Strait of Messina area”

About 47 pottery samples, representative of different ceramic classes, have been investigated using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared absorption, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and chemical analysis. The obtained results have also been compared with analysis performed on clays and gravels in the surrounding area of Messina (Gravitelli, Annunziata) where the pottery was excavated. The experimental data allowed the authors to establish the quantity and quality of the characteristic components of each ceramic class, confirming that many of them were made at the local factory in Messina.

Trace elements measurement by PIXE in the appraisal of the ancient potteries

Fifty pieces of pottery samples were collected from two domains with different types of ancient Sino-civilization. The concentrations of trace elements Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Rb, Sr, Y and Zr were measured by proton-induced X-ray emission technique. Multivariate statistical processing of the results allows us to locate the provenance of the ancient potteries. The experimental results also show that the relative trace element contents Ni–Rb–Zr are useful for distinguishing these two types of Chinese ancient potteries.