Ion, R.-M.; Pungoi, A.-E.; Iancu, L.; Grigorescu, R.M.; Vasilievici, G.; Gheboianu, A.I.; Slamnoiu-Teodorescu, S.; Alexandrescu, E. Compositional and Microstructural Investigations of Prehistoric Ceramics from Southern Romania (Middle Neolithic Pottery). Appl. Sci.2024, 14, 5755.
Ion, R.-M.; Pungoi, A.-E.; Iancu, L.; Grigorescu, R.M.; Vasilievici, G.; Gheboianu, A.I.; Slamnoiu-Teodorescu, S.; Alexandrescu, E. Compositional and Microstructural Investigations of Prehistoric Ceramics from Southern Romania (Middle Neolithic Pottery). Appl. Sci. 2024, 14, 5755.
Ion, R.-M.; Pungoi, A.-E.; Iancu, L.; Grigorescu, R.M.; Vasilievici, G.; Gheboianu, A.I.; Slamnoiu-Teodorescu, S.; Alexandrescu, E. Compositional and Microstructural Investigations of Prehistoric Ceramics from Southern Romania (Middle Neolithic Pottery). Appl. Sci.2024, 14, 5755.
Ion, R.-M.; Pungoi, A.-E.; Iancu, L.; Grigorescu, R.M.; Vasilievici, G.; Gheboianu, A.I.; Slamnoiu-Teodorescu, S.; Alexandrescu, E. Compositional and Microstructural Investigations of Prehistoric Ceramics from Southern Romania (Middle Neolithic Pottery). Appl. Sci. 2024, 14, 5755.
Abstract
In this paper, based on our previous expertise on ceramic artifacts, several archaeometric methods applied to some samples collected from the Dudești archaeological site (Oltenia region, Romania) are reported for the first time in the literature. The chemical composition and microstructural and morphological characterization of these samples offer important conclusions about the processing conditions. Some specific techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), wave-length-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF), Optical microscopy (OM), stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, provide composition information about pigments and their decay processes. Additionally, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method helps to estimate pore sizes and specific surface areas. Thermal analysis (TGA) was used to establish details regarding the production technology and the raw materials source used to make the ceramics, too. The obtained results indicated that the ceramics are based on a paste of muscovite, feldspar, with high plasticity, quartz, melanterite, and calcite, the latter in very low concentrations. According to the obtained results, we could assume that non-calcareous clays are present in the investigated samples because calcium exists in low concentrations. Gypsum is present, too, in very low concentration, identified by the presence of sulfate group in WDXRF. In the same context, iron oxides significantly impact the firing atmosphere of iron-rich clay, resulting in blackening under reducing conditions and reddish coloration under oxidative conditions. Using hematite and gypsum as pigments further contributes to the color variations in the pottery. The consistent firing temperature range of 200-600 °C in Dudești pottery implies a standardized production process, the variation in color being dependent on the specific reducing/oxidative regime conditions. This relationship between clay composition and local sources suggests a connection to Neolithic pottery production in the region and their color depending on the reducing/oxidative regime conditions.
Chemistry and Materials Science, Ceramics and Composites
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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