Analytical study of ancient pottery from the archaeological site of Aiani, northern Greece
- Museo Nacional Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, C/Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006 (Spain)
- 30th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Archaeological Museum of Aiani, 500 04 Aiani, Kozani (Greece)
The present study is a multi-analytical approach on the characterization of several potsherd samples, dated from prehistoric to hellenistic times, from Aiani, ancient Upper Macedonia, northern Greece. In particular, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy, coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray system (ESEM-EDX) were used for the determination of the morphological, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the potsherds. The preliminary results indicated a rather local provenance of the analyzed ancient pottery samples and a finer texture and thus better ceramic manufacture as getting to hellenistic era. The use of a silicious or calcerous raw material is probably related to the specific utilization of each ceramic vessel in ancient times. The presence of gehlenite or pyroxene minerals in the ceramic matrix indicated higher firing temperatures, while lower temperatures were deduced when finding phylosilicate minerals. The preliminary results of this study do not necessarily imply that all the pottery of this area, belonging to the same chronological type, have similar physicochemical characteristics.
- OSTI ID:
- 21192610
- Journal Information:
- Materials Characterization, Vol. 60, Issue 4; Conference: 3. metallography, history and the fine arts symposium of the International Metallographic Society, Fort Lauderdale, FL (United States), 5-9 Aug 2007; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2008.08.001; PII: S1044-5803(08)00214-3; Copyright (c) 2008 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1044-5803
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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