Petrographic Analysis of Glaze-Painted Ceramics

1980

Glaze wares dominated the Rio Grande Valley prior and continuing into the Spanish contact period. Many studies view the development of glaze wares as an indicator for social reorganization and craft specialization. These studies primarily look at compositional data, yet the origin of materials is only one part of the story. The actual function of the vessel is also important to consider. This paper evaluates the porosity and hardness of ceramics from the Rio Grande Valley in order to test the hypothesis that the dominance of glaze wares is a reflection of dietary and social change during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The possible introduction of new foods alongside trade and migrating populations suggests the need for resilient vessels. These initial steps are encouraging in the study of ceramics in larger archaeological discussions of social organization, diet, and exchange.

Minerals, 2022

In this paper, we addressed the chemical composition and main features of a glazed Almohad ceramic assemblage recovered from Puig de Sa Morisca, a rural Islamic site located in southwest Mallorca. The glazes were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscope equipped with energy-dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS). The archaeometrical analysis conducted allowed us to characterize the technological choices applied by potters from the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century. The exclusive use of lead-silica glazes was confirmed, which in some cases was opacified with tin. We also established that some tableware vessels, which were imported to the island, have shown glazes with a particular composition within the analyzed record.

Integrative Approaches in Ceramic Petrography, 2016

Laboratory of Anthropology note, 1976

34 leaves (C1-C34). Describes the pottery types found during the Cochiti Dam Salvage Project. Sandoval County (N.M.) Cochiti Dam Region (N.M.) LA 70 Pottery types Pottery types analysis Glazes Agua Fria Glaze-on-red pottery Arenal Glaze Polychrome pottery Cieneguilla Glaze-on-yellow pottery Cieneguilla Glaze Polychrome pottery Escondido Glaze Polychrome pottery Espinoso Glaze Polychrome pottery Kotyiti Glaze-on-yellow pottery Largo Glaze-on-yellow pottery Largo Glaze-on-red pottery Largo Glaze Polychrome pottery Lemitar Glaze-on-yellow pottery Lemitar Glaze Polychrome pottery Medio Glaze Polychrome pottery Los Padillas Glaze Polychrome pottery Polvadera Glaze-on-red pottery Polvadera Glaze Polychrome pottery Pottery Mound Glaze Polychrome pottery Puaray Glaze Polychrome pottery San Clemente Glaze Polychrome pottery San Lazaro Glaze Polychrome pottery Sanchez Glaze-on-yellow pottery Sanchez Glaze-on-red pottery Sanchez Glaze Polychrome pottery Yunque Glaze Polychrome pottery

Journal Raman Spectroscopy, 2022

Sixteen glazes on medieval (14th–16th century AD) pottery fragments from Vega pottery workshop (Burgos, Spain) were characterized to investigate the production technology. To this end, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) were used. The studied glaze samples correspond to fragments of high-quality glazed ware used by the wealthiest society in the city of Burgos. The most representative types of glazes, corresponding to honey-marble, honey-yellow, bright light green, and dark green types, were analysed. Raman spectroscopy shows lead was used as a fluxing agent in glaze production. SEMEDX analysis confirms the use of lead oxide and evidences that most of the samples underwent at least two firing processes. No Raman signals of crystalline phases were detected on either glaze surfaces or glaze thin-sections. The exception is the single firing of dark green glazes, which show pseudobrookite and rutile at the clay body/glaze interface measured in thin section. No colouring crystalline phases were identified by Raman spectroscopy either. However, SEM-EDX shows iron was the most-used colouring agent whereas copper was used for bright light green glazes. The polymerization index (Ip) values were used to estimate the firing temperatures. The polymerization index values are typically low for lead glazes and indicate firing temperatures below 700
C.

Jerusalem Western Wall Plaza Excavations Volume II, the Pottery from the Eastern Cardo , 2019

Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, 2016

A complete visual, mineralogical, textural, chemical and statistical study is presented of thirty ceramic specimens recovered from various Roman archaeological sites in central Spain (Ávila). Therefore, the novelty of this work is that we report the first complete study of pottery fragments in the Ávila region (Castile and Leon, Spain) dating back to the Roman Empire. Potential/local raw materials were characterised, in order to classify ancient pottery samples by origin. The presence of firing minerals in the ancient ceramic samples was studied, to investigate the technology used in their manufacture. Another innovation of this article is that the statistical study has established links between ceramic samples, shedding further light on knowledge of manufacturing techniques in this region during the Roman Empire. Similar materials were identified in most of the ceramic pieces from the archaeological sites, all present in the local geological environment, which underlines their autochthonous origin. The raw materials were initially chosen on the basis of the final use of the sample (typology of the samples: Terra sigillata hispanica, common pottery and tegulae). The samples were manufactured within three different temperature ranges (temperature > 900Cº, between 900 – 800ºC and between 800– 600ºC) and under three different redox environments (oxidizing, reduction and irregular conditions). Non-plastic inclusions were added, intentionally or otherwise, to the initial clay, depending on the final typology of the sample

2015

techniques were applied to characterize and differentiate surface paintings of archeological pottery from the Aguada Ambato and Portezuelo styles (Catamarca, Argentina). Standard procedures are not always appropriate for such samples (paint layers are porous, nonplanar and discontinue). Image processing is necessary when chemical contrast is not discriminated. Soft x-ray lines (e.g. Fe L) are more revealing because those detected come from shallower depths, clearly depicting the composition of the paint layer. These styles differ in mineralogy and chemistry suggesting that they are two distinctive entities not only on their designs but also on the materials chosen and the technology used. Aguada Portezuelo paints contain Ca (white), Fe–Mn (black), Fe–Mn–Ca (dark reddish) and Fe–Ca (reddish). The white ones correspond to gehlenite, a firing product (possible firing temperature ≥900–1000 ◦C); calcite and CaO occur in cases of firing temperatures<900 ◦C. Aguada Ambato presents diffi...