Pottery Samples Research Articles

Mineralogical analysis and firing temperature of the ancient potteries of Tamil Nadu using spectroscopic techniques

Our curiosity about archaeological artefacts leads us to discover details about the lifestyles of our ancestors. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and thermogravimetry differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) techniques have been used to characterize the ancient potteries unearthed at the recently excavated archaeological site of Palayanur, Tamil Nadu. Minerals such as quartz (silicate group), feldspar, clay minerals (illite), calcite, hematite, magnetite, and organic carbon were identified from FT-IR analysis. Quartz had been detected in all of the samples, as evidenced by the significant absorption peaks at 794 cm−1, 795 cm−1, 779 cm−1, 780 cm−1, 781 cm−1, and 695 cm−1. The obtained 2θ values from the XRD spectrum validated the mineral’s presence as well as the pottery’s firing condition and temperature. The presence of calcite indicates that these samples were fired below 850 ℃, and the presence of hematite in the potteries indicates that they were fired in an oxidizing atmosphere. The elemental concentration and microstructure of collected pottery samples were determined by the SEM-EDX technique to elucidate the nature of the raw material used for making pottery samples.

Neolithic Traditions on the Northern Periphery of the Dalmatepe Culture

The purpose of the study is to reveal the factors that determine the features of the Neolithic-Chalcolithic transition in the South Caucasus and the spread of the Dalmatepe culture in the region during this period.
 The novelty of this study lies in the confirmation of the Neolithic traditions of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivantepe layer of the Dalmatepe period, as well as the identification of the boundaries and distinctive features of the northern periphery of the Dalmatepe culture.
 The results of the study indicate that Nakhchivantepe was the main center of Dalmatepe culture in the South Caucasus. Pottery samples found in the nearby settlements of Uchan Agyl, Uzunoba, Bülovgaya, as well as in the settlement of Godedzor on the territory of Zangazur, make it possible to include the Nakhchivanchay river valley and the Zangazur ridge in the northern periphery of the Dalmatepe culture.
 The settlement of Nakhchivantepe is the main center of this periphery and demonstrates a transition from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic culture in its stratigraphy. The pottery found in the settlement is divided into four main categories: simple chaff-tempered pottery, surface-manipulated pottery, red-slipped pottery, and painted pottery.
 Simple chaff-tempered pottery (Group I) reflects the characteristics of the Kültepe culture (6372-5200), which appeared in the Neolithic period in the Nakhchivanchay valley. Neolithic traditions are also traced in the typology of simple ceramic vessels. Other groups of ceramics (II-IV) are similar to the materials typical for the Dalmatepe culture sites. However, in contrast to the south, ceramics with surface-manipulated ornaments are even more ancient on the northern periphery of the Dalmatepe culture. Some of the specimens are similar to the surface-manipulated ceramics of the Late Neolithic sites of Mil-Karabakh. The findings of this study confirmed the influence of the Azerbaijani Neolithic cultures on the Dalmatepe culture and identified the factors responsible for its spread.

Trade Networks in the Neighbouring Roman Provinces of Aquitania-Tarraconensis on the Bay of Biscay: Evidence from Petrographic and Chemical Analyses of Common Coarse Ware Pottery

Common non-wheel-thrown Roman pottery from the southern Aquitania and north-eastern of Tarraconensis provinces (CNT-AQTA) of the Early and Later Roman Empire (1st to 5th centuries AD) has been studied. Petrological, mineralogical, and chemical analyses were conducted to contrast with the archaeological study of the pottery. The chemical composition of many pottery samples displays different patterns of burial chemical modification, limiting their use for provenance and diffusion studies. Particular emphasis has been paid to the petrographic features of the fabrics, as they do not change during burial, reflecting the nature of the raw material and making it possible to identify the provenance areas of the raw materials. Around the Bay of Biscay, the same pottery tradition continued in the neighbouring provinces during Roman times. Petrographic studies make it possible to determine the distribution of pottery and the changes in trade networks during the Roman period across the area of the Bay of Biscay being studied.

Compositional characterization of pottery and clays from Guam by NAA

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) was performed on a sample of 38 pottery sherds and five clays recovered from archaeological sites and river valleys in Guam. To maximize the chance of finding compositional differences, sherds were sampled from sites in five different coastal areas and nine sites in the island’s southern interior. The clays came from two locations in the island’s southern interior. The analytical and statistical procedures used to identify two subgroups within the pottery samples are described and a relationship between one of the subgroups and the clays is discussed.

Corrosion of glaze in the marine environment: study on the green-glazed pottery from the Southern Song “Nanhai I” shipwreck (1127–1279 A.D.)

The “Nanhai I” shipwreck is an important discovery in the underwater archaeology of China, and many ceramics have been unearthed. These ceramics are important material artifacts of China’s “Maritime Silk Road” and have considerable significance for the study of foreign trade in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279 A.D.). However, these ceramics have been buried in a marine environment for approximately 800 years and have all been corroded to varying degrees, with green-glazed pottery being the most severely corroded. In this study, the chemical compositions of five samples of green-glazed pottery and the corrosion morphology and mechanism of a representative sample were analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (SEM–EDS), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results: The green glaze is a low-temperature silica-aluminum oxide-lead oxide (SiO2-Al2O3-PbO) glaze with copper ions (Cu2+) as the main colorant. The corrosion morphology is characterized by alternating silicon (Si)- and lead (Pb)-rich layers, a sharp reaction interface between the Si-rich layer and the pristine glaze, and a relatively high porosity of the Si-rich gel layer, which is formed by the accumulation of spherical hydrated silica colloidal particles. These features suggest that the glaze was corroded through an interface-coupled dissolution–precipitation mechanism and that the properties of the gel pores controlled the reaction kinetics. Fluctuations in the solution properties at the reaction interface produced the complex morphology of the gel layer, whereas changes in the dryness and humidity of the environment are not essential factors. The samples have been corroding in the marine environment for nearly a thousand years, and explorations of the corrosion morphology and mechanism could provide reference information on the corrosion of various ancient ceramics and glasses and a basis for scientific conservation of these objects.

Culinary practices and pottery use in Minoan Crete. Integrating lipidic residue analysis in the study of cooking vessels from Sissi and Malia

Minoan cooking practices and subsistence strategies have been an integral part of the archaeological discourse in Aegean prehistory for the past 20 years, although the focus was largely on feasting deposits and food consumption. Given that the spectrum of human activities related with food production and preparation is wide and complex, shedding light on pottery use can reveal important information on the resources available and the practices of cooking involved, as well as their social repercussions.We report on the analytical investigation of cooking vessels from two neighboring Minoan settlements, Sissi and Malia, both located in north east Crete. In particular, eleven (11) samples were selected from cooking pottery excavated in Area Pi, district of the Malia palace dated to the Neopalatial period. Another twenty-nine (29) cooking pottery samples were chosen from Sissi dated from Neopalatial to Postpalatial periods and therefore extending the chronological scope of the project. Molecular analysis was implemented, as part of an integrated approach on study of cooking vessels, aiming at exploring the resources available, food habits and vessel use during Middle and Late Minoan period. To this end different vessels of common cooking types were analysed, such as tripod cooking pots, cooking jars and cooking dishes. The data generated revealed the use of beeswax and Pinaceae resins, as well as the preservation of lipids derived from plant and animal fats.Significant data on vessel use through time was generated, providing significant insights on the manifold relationship between food procurement, preparation and consumption practices and on the potential of new research methods in their investigation in Minoan Crete.

Assessing the potential of Sentinel-2 imagery and spectroscopy for determining the origin of ancient artifacts in Khuzestan, Iran

Studying the spectral behavior of objects using remote sensing and spectroscopy can be used to identify the source of the raw materials. Therefore, this research first studied the spectral behavior and composition of the ancient artifacts of the Ziggurat temple located in the Khuzestan province, southwest Iran, using FieldSpec3 spectro-radiometer, The Spectral Geologist (TSG), the Prism software, and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. A Comparison of the spectral curves and absorption features of the samples shows that the spectral behavior of brick and pottery samples differs mostly from that of soil samples. The next step was to examine the potential of Sentinel-2 images to classify the area using the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) classifier for detecting the origin of the raw materials utilized in the construction of the Ziggurat's brick and pottery samples. The SAM results showed that the raw materials originated mostly from outside the area, which are confirmed by the results of TSG and Prism software. Comparison of the XRD results with the SAM and TSG validated that XRD results confirmed the SAM results. However, only some of the TSG similarity results were consistent with the XRD. These results suggest that the Sentinel-2 image was successful in finding the source of raw materials. The results can help decision makers to make informed decisions about the conservation and preservation of the temple and its artifacts. Also, they can use these techniques to investigate the origin of other ancient structures and artifacts in different locations.

A Fast and Efficient Procedure of Iron Species Determination Based on HPLC with a Short Column and Detection in High Resolution ICP OES.

The optimization and application of a new hyphenated procedure for iron ionic speciation, i.e., high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with short cation-exchange column (50 mm × 4 mm) coupled to high resolution inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP hrOES), is presented in this paper. Fe(III) and Fe(II) species were separated on the column with the mobile phase containing pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDCA). The total time of the analysis was approx. 5 min, with a significantly low eluent flow rate (0.5 mL min-1) compared to the literature. Additionally, a long cation-exchange column (250 mm × 4.0 mm) was used as reference. Depending on the total iron content in the sample, two plasma views were chosen, e.g., an attenuated axial (<2 g kg-1) and an attenuated radial. The standard addition method was performed for the method's accuracy studies, and the applicability was presented on three types of samples: sediments, soils, and archaeological pottery. This study introduces a fast, efficient, and green method for leachable iron speciation in both geological and pottery samples.

Minero‐petrographic characterization of fine ware from Cales (South Italy)

Abstract79 samples of black glazed pottery, Terra sigillata, fine common ware, and production indicators were recovered in the archaeological site of Cales and investigated via a multi‐analytical program (polarized light microscopy, thermal analyses, XRPD, XRF, FESEM, FESEM‐EDS). Among the materials, finds of important production indicators, represented by welded pieces of black glazed pottery and spacers, attest a local production.Polarized light microscopy shows that the inclusions consist of feldspar, quartz, mica, calcite, and lithic fragments of both volcanic and sedimentary nature. Additional information about the mineralogical assemblage comes from the XRPD that revealed the presence of neoformed Ca‐silicates, indicating equivalent firing temperatures ranging from 750 to 1050°C.All the samples show a Ca‐rich character and an extreme compositional homogeneity, including the production indicators. The comparison with some Ca‐rich Campanian clay raw materials shows a greater affinity with the Mio‐Pliocene marine clay sediments of the Apennine sector, which include local clays. This allowed us to formulate the first hypotheses about clay sources used to produce fine pottery during the third century BCE to the early imperial period in Cales.

Considerations on the Po[ta]toria Pottery of (L)Ibida. Case Study: Sector Curtina G – Tower 8

The sample of vassa po[ta]toria presented in this article was found in the Curtina G – Tower 8 sector of the (L)Ibida archaeological site, Slava Rusă, com. Slava Cercheză, county. Tulcea, during excavations, carried out between 2002 and 2014. With the processing and selection of the material, a pottery sample of 130 vessels was outlined. These are chronologically classified between the 2nd and 5th centuries p.Chr.

The in-depth study of Romanian prehistoric ceramics: Late Neolithic/Eneolithic pottery and clay materials from the Foeni Tell-Orthodox cemetery in Timiş county

The study aims to analyze pottery samples from the archaeological site Foeni Tell – Orthodox Cemetery, a late Neolithic & early Eneolithic multi-stratified site (three phases, covering the period 4720-4457 cal BC), also inhabited during the Early Bronze Age and Middle Ages. The site is located on the western edge of Foeni (Timiș county, Romania), on the eastern bank of the Timișaț river. The analyzed samples come from 20 pottery shards, belonging to the Foeni cultural group (4920/4675–4580/4460 cal BC, corresponding to the later period of the Vinča culture, from the end of phase C to the end of phase D), and are representative of the categories (black, red, orange, painted) and types (fine, semi-fine, coarse) pottery associated with the cultural group; also analyzed were soil samples from the site. Complementary techniques were used in the analysis (TG/DTG, FT-IR, SEM, EDX, XRF, XRD and LIBS) to ascertain details regarding production technology and origin of the raw materials used in making the pottery. Results indicate the pottery was based on a high plasticity illite and montmorillonite paste, alongside albite, microcline, analcime, with heavy use of quartz and mica as temper. The clay composition shows an obvious link between the pottery and the local sampled source, implying the local production of Foeni type pottery. The firing temperature is uniform in Foeni pottery, estimated in the range of 550–600 °C, with a maximum firing temperature of 600 °C, with slightly higher temperatures for painted wares, of up to 620–630 °C, with a maximum temperature of 650 °C. The sole exception has an estimated firing temperature in excess of 900 °C.

Possible leafy vegetables in prehistoric southern Vietnamese cuisine with a distinctive biomolecular profile

This paper presents the results of organic residue analysis conducted on eight sampled pottery vessels recovered from one Neolithic site (An Sơn), one Neolithic-Metal Age site (Lò Gạch), and one Metal Age site (Gò Ô Chùa) in Long An, Southern Vietnam. The results indicate a specific combination of terrestrial and aquatic plant sources utilized as leafy vegetables in the culinary practices of the people inhabiting the Mekong River Delta in later prehistory based on their common and distinctive biomolecular profiles. We identified a series of mid-to-long-chain fatty acids, alkanes, and alcohols, as well as a wax ester (tetracosanyl palmitate, C40). To our knowledge, this distinct lipid profile with the prominence of tetracosanol (C24-OH) and hexacosanol (C26-OH), along with C40 wax ester, has not been reported to date in archaeological pottery samples. The detection of these plant waxes provides novel molecular evidence for the exploitation of terrestrial and aquatic plants as leafy vegetables. It also provides archaeobotanical evidence for possible continuity of culinary practice from the Neolithic to Metal Age that involves the usage of pottery for preparing and serving a common and specific combination of plant food sources that are available within the vicinities of the three inland sites of An Sơn, Lò Gạch, and Gò Ô Chùa. These findings highlight the importance of plant food sources in the culinary practices along the prehistoric Mekong Delta.

Итоги изучения керамики группы «джукетау» из булгарского городища Джукетау (Республика Татарстан, г. Чистополь)

Goals. The article aims to summarize some results of the research into Juketau-group ceramics from the medieval hillfort of Juketau (10th – 13th centuries CE). Results. Archaeological remains of the historically famous Bulgar-Tatar city of Juketau (‘Zhukotin’ according to Russian 10th – 14th century chronicles) are located on the left bank of the Kama River, on the western border of present-day Chistopol (Tatarstan). In the ceramic complex of the settlement, the share of dishes clustering with Juketau-group ceramics constitutes 65–70%. Morphological and technological analyses of this ceramic group have identified a number of distinct pottery production features, namely: the bulk of items examined are samples of handicraft pottery, though with certain archaic elements (round bottoms and individual forms of the ‘lip’ as a functional part of vessels, patching techniques, high concentration of tempers, use of ovens or bonfire devices for pottery firing). The skills of working with a potter’s wheel and a pottery kiln are characteristic of Juketau-group ceramic handicraft production. Conclusions. The study suggests the city of Juketau was a center of highly developed pottery production in the medieval state of Volga Bulgaria.

Beyond a Decoration; Mineralogical and Micro-structural Study of the Early Bronze Age “Life Cycle Jar” from Keshik Cemetery, Sistan and Balouchistan, Iran

The present study focuses on a unique pottery vessel, the so-called “Life Cycle Jar”, and nine other potsherds which were discovered in the Keshik cemetery, Baluchistan, south-east Iran. Samples were investigated through classical analytical methods such as thin-section petrography, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (SEM-EDX) to determine the production techniques, fabric characterisation, as well as the pigments applied to decorate the surface of the Life Cycle Jar. Mineralogical and chemical investigations revealed that the pottery pieces were similar in raw materials, and produced locally. Samples show a wheel-thrown signature based on the definite orientation of pores and structural character in their thin sections. The potter pieces were fired under oxidation processes demonstrated by the red and green colour of the matrix. The investigated pottery samples were defined as high-fired sherds (ca. 800–950°C), due to the presence of inclusions in the form of reacted calcite in rhombohedra crystal structure, and hematite within the matrix of the pottery. The microstructural characteristics of the pottery pieces showed that the manufacturing temperature was no higher than 950 °C, by presintering texture. The investigations on the painted decoration on the Life Cycle Jar suggested that iron oxide and manganese oxide was used as the colourant agent in the decoration.

Технологические и культурные традиции гончарства в среднем неолите Байкало-­Енисейской Сибири

Introduction. The lack of known Middle Neolithic burial complexes in Baikal-Yenisei Siberia makes pottery finds from archaeological sites a key source to explore the cultural and historical situation in the region. According to AMS 14C-dates in the range of ~6,8–6,3 ka cal BP in the territory of Baikal-Yenisei Siberia, two types of ceramics are widespread — Posolsk and Ust-Belaya types. Goals. The study seeks to identify technological and cultural traditions of Middle Neolithic pottery. Materials and methods. The work examines Ust-Belaya and Posolsk type pottery samples from fifteen excavated sites of Baikal-Yenisei Siberia. The paper describes morphological and decorative patterns inherent thereto, provides technical and technological analyses following the methodology of A. Bobrinsky. The molding masses of eighteen Ust-Belaya type vessels and sixteen Posolsk type vessels have been studied with the aid of a binocular microscope. Results. In all cases, ferruginous sandy clay containing quartz sand had served as initial plastic raw material. Molding masses are characterized mainly by an unmixed one-component composition without artificial additives. In two cases, quartz grus has been identified, in another there are traces of organic matter (possibly added intentionally). Vessels of the Posolsk type have closed paraboloid forms with a weak profiling of the upper part and a sharpened bottom. The ornament is localized in the upper part of the vessel and is represented by horizontal ‘receding stick’ rows or drawn lines. The composition below ends with separate shapes, such as triangles or short vertical lines. The rim is decorated with prints of a comb stamp and has a line of round holes which is located over the line made by stick through drawing or receding techniques. The study of molding masses of sixteen Posolsk vessels demonstrates an unmixed one-component composition. In all cases, ferruginous sandy clay had been used as initial plastic raw material. The analysis of the modeling features of Middle Neolithic ceramics makes it possible to formulate hypothetical production programs of theirs. To check the latter, experiments were carried out to model the Ust-Belaya and Posolsk types of vessels. Technical and technological analyses, experiments conducted, and comparisons of models with archaeological vessels reveal technological traditions generally characteristic of Middle Neolithic pottery, such as the method of zonal patchwork modeling in combination with walls knocking out techniques, as well as the use of other vessels as base forms. So, Ust-Belaya vessels could have been completely made on such base forms, while upper parts of Posolsk vessels were profiled after removal from such forms. Knocking out tools for Posolsk ceramics included cord and carved shovels, and for Ust-Belaya type — smooth shovels sometimes wrapped with a woven net. Design patterns of the rim are also different. Conclusions. For the preparatory stage of Middle Neolithic ceramics production, there was a stable tradition of using local sandy clays without additives. The modeling principles common for the two types, along with the absence of flat-bottomed forms, reflect the same level of technological development and similar ideas about the making and functions of vessels, which does not necessarily indicate any ethnocultural closeness of culture bearers. Different traditions of morphology, techniques and decoration indicate that the pottery types belong to different populations. In Posolsk ceramics, there are autochthonous features bringing it closer to the Early Neolithic Khaita pottery. Ceramics of the Ust-Belaya type has no visible origins in the Early Neolithic of the region, which indicates its non-local origin. In addition, the materials of the campsites indicate that the bearers of these traditions had tended to choose different habitats.

Новые данные о стоянке Курпеже-молла в Северном Прикаспии

Introduction. The article analyzes materials from one reference site of the Caspian culture in the Northern Caspian. Two main achievements of prehistoric society — emergence of metalworking and that of productive economy — are associated with this culture. Goals. The paper aims to identify cultural and chronological complexes inherent to the site of Kurpezhe-Molla. So, the study seeks to characterize stone and ceramic inventories, their cultural attributions, attempts a comparative analysis of pottery production techniques in different cultures, and determines their absolute ages. Materials and methods. The work focuses on materials from Kurpezhe-Molla — a key site of the Caspian culture. The latter was being excavated from 1980 to 1989 to have yielded publications covering the first five years only. This paper is first to publish and consider complexes of all years of research. The employed research methods include the typological, planigraphic, technical/technological, and radiocarbon ones. Results. Typological analysis makes it possible to identify ceramics of the Khvalynsk and later cultural types (in addition to ceramics of the Caspian culture proper). This was confirmed by that the stone artifacts included some typical for the Early Eneolithic. Technical and technological characteristics of the Caspian and Khvalynsk pottery samples prove similar enough but there are some differences. The work estimates an earlier age of the Caspian culture and a later one for that of Khvalynsk. Conclusions. Comprehensive insights into respective materials attest to a complex character of the site of Kurpezhe-Molla. Artifacts of the Caspian culture proper are paralleled by materials of the Khvalynsk type. The radiocarbon dates obtained imply the Caspian materials be referred to an earlier period. The paper traces both similar and distinctive features inherent to typology and manufacturing techniques characteristic of the archaeological cultures examined. This may indicate the Khvalynsk ceramic tradition had evolved from the Caspian one, or serve evidence of their coexistence at a certain stage.

Технологические и культурные традиции гончарства в среднем неолите Байкало-­Енисейской Сибири

Introduction. The lack of known Middle Neolithic burial complexes in Baikal-Yenisei Siberia makes pottery finds from archaeological sites a key source to explore the cultural and historical situation in the region. According to AMS 14C-dates in the range of ~6,8–6,3 ka cal BP in the territory of Baikal-Yenisei Siberia, two types of ceramics are widespread — Posolsk and Ust-Belaya types. Goals. The study seeks to identify technological and cultural traditions of Middle Neolithic pottery. Materials and methods. The work examines Ust-Belaya and Posolsk type pottery samples from fifteen excavated sites of Baikal-Yenisei Siberia. The paper describes morphological and decorative patterns inherent thereto, provides technical and technological analyses following the methodology of A. Bobrinsky. The molding masses of eighteen Ust-Belaya type vessels and sixteen Posolsk type vessels have been studied with the aid of a binocular microscope. Results. In all cases, ferruginous sandy clay containing quartz sand had served as initial plastic raw material. Molding masses are characterized mainly by an unmixed one-component composition without artificial additives. In two cases, quartz grus has been identified, in another there are traces of organic matter (possibly added intentionally). Vessels of the Posolsk type have closed paraboloid forms with a weak profiling of the upper part and a sharpened bottom. The ornament is localized in the upper part of the vessel and is represented by horizontal ‘receding stick’ rows or drawn lines. The composition below ends with separate shapes, such as triangles or short vertical lines. The rim is decorated with prints of a comb stamp and has a line of round holes which is located over the line made by stick through drawing or receding techniques. The study of molding masses of sixteen Posolsk vessels demonstrates an unmixed one-component composition. In all cases, ferruginous sandy clay had been used as initial plastic raw material. The analysis of the modeling features of Middle Neolithic ceramics makes it possible to formulate hypothetical production programs of theirs. To check the latter, experiments were carried out to model the Ust-Belaya and Posolsk types of vessels. Technical and technological analyses, experiments conducted, and comparisons of models with archaeological vessels reveal technological traditions generally characteristic of Middle Neolithic pottery, such as the method of zonal patchwork modeling in combination with walls knocking out techniques, as well as the use of other vessels as base forms. So, Ust-Belaya vessels could have been completely made on such base forms, while upper parts of Posolsk vessels were profiled after removal from such forms. Knocking out tools for Posolsk ceramics included cord and carved shovels, and for Ust-Belaya type — smooth shovels sometimes wrapped with a woven net. Design patterns of the rim are also different. Conclusions. For the preparatory stage of Middle Neolithic ceramics production, there was a stable tradition of using local sandy clays without additives. The modeling principles common for the two types, along with the absence of flat-bottomed forms, reflect the same level of technological development and similar ideas about the making and functions of vessels, which does not necessarily indicate any ethnocultural closeness of culture bearers. Different traditions of morphology, techniques and decoration indicate that the pottery types belong to different populations. In Posolsk ceramics, there are autochthonous features bringing it closer to the Early Neolithic Khaita pottery. Ceramics of the Ust-Belaya type has no visible origins in the Early Neolithic of the region, which indicates its non-local origin. In addition, the materials of the campsites indicate that the bearers of these traditions had tended to choose different habitats.

Новые данные о стоянке Курпеже-молла в Северном Прикаспии

Introduction. The article analyzes materials from one reference site of the Caspian culture in the Northern Caspian. Two main achievements of prehistoric society — emergence of metalworking and that of productive economy — are associated with this culture. Goals. The paper aims to identify cultural and chronological complexes inherent to the site of Kurpezhe-Molla. So, the study seeks to characterize stone and ceramic inventories, their cultural attributions, attempts a comparative analysis of pottery production techniques in different cultures, and determines their absolute ages. Materials and methods. The work focuses on materials from Kurpezhe-Molla — a key site of the Caspian culture. The latter was being excavated from 1980 to 1989 to have yielded publications covering the first five years only. This paper is first to publish and consider complexes of all years of research. The employed research methods include the typological, planigraphic, technical/technological, and radiocarbon ones. Results. Typological analysis makes it possible to identify ceramics of the Khvalynsk and later cultural types (in addition to ceramics of the Caspian culture proper). This was confirmed by that the stone artifacts included some typical for the Early Eneolithic. Technical and technological characteristics of the Caspian and Khvalynsk pottery samples prove similar enough but there are some differences. The work estimates an earlier age of the Caspian culture and a later one for that of Khvalynsk. Conclusions. Comprehensive insights into respective materials attest to a complex character of the site of Kurpezhe-Molla. Artifacts of the Caspian culture proper are paralleled by materials of the Khvalynsk type. The radiocarbon dates obtained imply the Caspian materials be referred to an earlier period. The paper traces both similar and distinctive features inherent to typology and manufacturing techniques characteristic of the archaeological cultures examined. This may indicate the Khvalynsk ceramic tradition had evolved from the Caspian one, or serve evidence of their coexistence at a certain stage.

Annual Dose Analysis of Pottery from Thoud-Ta Thoud-Yai Archaeological Site in the Songkhla Province of Southern Thailand

Thoud-Ta Thoud-Yai is Thailand's oldest archaeological site. Identifying the age of artifacts helps link past and present in storytelling. Absolute dating techniques are used to estimate a sample's geological age. Calculating the annual dose is the essential step. The annual dose depends on samples' concentrations of natural radionuclides and the sediment surrounding them. This research performed the annual radiation dose analysis in pottery by quantifying the concentrations of natural radionuclides using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). According to the volume analysis, internal dose, external dose, and cosmic rays contribute 0.180 ± 0.027, 0.959 ± 0.110, and 0.177 ± 0.009 mGy/year, respectively. The annual dose was found to be 1.139 ± 0.113 mGy/year. Annual dose measurements are necessary for determining the age of pottery samples. Since the age is determined by dividing the equivalent dose by the annual dose, this result connects the past and present at the Thoud-Ta Thoud-Yai archaeological site.

The Chronology of the Archaeological surface remains of Tepe Pa-Chogha, Central Zagros (Kermanshah, Iran)

The highland plains of western Iran have been investigated with varying intensity. The Sarfirouzabad plain, located in the south of Kermanshah province, although visited perfunctorily, has not previously been studied systematically, despite desirable ecological and environmental conditions. In 2009, a team from the University of Tehran conducted a systematic and intensive field survey in the region to identify archaeological settlements and to assess their location concerning ecological, environmental and cultural factors impacted the distribution of sites on the plain. The surveyed area was walked in transects at 20-metre intervals and resulted in the identification of 332 archaeological sites from different cultural periods, which added much to the limited knowledge about the history of this region. During this survey, Pa-Chogha as the biggest tell site in the area, was identified. Fifty-nine samples of pottery and five stone tools were collected from the surface of Pa-Chogha dated from Late Chalcolithic to Islamic periods. Unfortunately, due to the expansion of Pa-Chogha village, the site is in danger of being destroyed. Our aim to publish this article is to introduce the Pa-Chogha as an important site for the chronology of Central Zagros at first, and preventing the further destruction of this site at the second.