Thin Section Petrography, Geochemistry and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Archaeological Ceramics

Using over 400 colour figures of a diverse range of artefact types and archaeological periods from 50 countries worldwide, this book outlines the mineralogical, chemical and microstructural composition of ancient ceramics and provides comprehensive guidelines for their scientific study within archaeology.

Thin section petrography, geochemistry, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction are key scientific methods used to investigate the raw materials, origins and production technology of archaeological pottery, ceramic building materials, ancient refractories and plaster. Using over 400 colour figures of a diverse range of artefact types and archaeological periods from 50 countries worldwide, this book outlines the mineralogical, chemical and microstructural composition of ancient ceramics and provides comprehensive guidelines for their scientific study within archaeology. The core of the book is dedicated to the versatile approach of ceramic petrography. This is complimented by a detailed account of the principles of bulk instrumental geochemistry, as well as the SEM microanalysis and XRD characterisation of ceramics. The book is intended as a reference manual for research as well as a course text for specialist training on scientific ceramic analysis.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Archaeological Ceramics & Compositional Analysis Archaeological Ceramics Ceramic Compositional Analysis Introduction to Thin Section Petrography Further Reading Chapter 2: Sampling, Preparation & Analysis of Ceramic Thin Sections Introduction Sampling Thin Section Preparation Analytical Equipment Other Resources Curation & Access to Thin Sections Further Reading Chapter 3: Composition of Archaeological Ceramics in Thin Section Introduction The Clay Matrix Particulate Inclusions Voids Further Reading Chapter 4: Classification & Characterisation of Archaeological Ceramics in Thin Section Introduction Visual Classification & Description Quantitative Characterisation & Statistical Grouping Macroscopic Fabric Analysis Further Reading Chapter 5: Petrographic Provenance Determination Introduction Geological Characterisation of Ceramic Raw Materials Provenance Resolution Geological Literature & Fieldwork Quantitative Provenance Determination Micropalaeontology Interpreting Provenance Data Further Reading Chapter 6: Reconstructing Ancient Ceramic Technology in Thin Section Introduction Raw Material Selection & Procurement Raw Material Processing & Paste Preparation Forming Methods Finishing Drying Firing Ceramic Use & Function Post-Depositional Alteration of Archaeological Ceramics Further Reading Chapter 7: Other Ceramic Materials in Thin Section Introduction Architectural Ceramics Unfired Clay Structures Refractory Ceramics Other Ceramic Objects Petrography of Cementitious Materials Stoneware, Fritware, Porcelain & Faience Further Reading Chapter 8: Instrumental Geochemistry of Archaeological Ceramics Introduction The Chemical Composition of Ceramics Equipment & Preparation Quality Control Descriptive Statistics Choice of Elements Normalisation, Standardisation & Transformation Detecting Geochemical Patterning Data Presentation Reconciling Geochemical & Petrographic Data Geochemical Provenance Interpretation Geochemistry & Ceramic Technology Further Reading Chapter 9: Scanning Electron Microscopy & X-Ray Diffraction of Archaeological Ceramics Introduction Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM Geochemical Characterisation SEM Mineralogical Characterisation SEM versus Thin Section Petrography & Bulk Geochemistry X-Ray Diffraction Analysis of Ceramics Further Reading, Chapter 1: Introduction to Archaeological Ceramics & Compositional Analysis Archaeological Ceramics ;
Ceramic Compositional Analysis ;
Introduction to Thin Section Petrography ;
Further Reading ;
Chapter 2: Sampling, Preparation & Analysis of Ceramic Thin Sections Introduction ;
Sampling ;
Thin Section Preparation ;
Analytical Equipment ;
Other Resources ;
Curation & Access to Thin Sections ;
Further Reading ;
Chapter 3: Composition of Archaeological Ceramics in Thin Section Introduction ;
The Clay Matrix ;
Particulate Inclusions ;
Voids ;
Further Reading ;
Chapter 4: Classification & Characterisation of Archaeological Ceramics in Thin Section Introduction ;
Visual Classification & Description ;
Quantitative Characterisation & Statistical Grouping ;
Macroscopic Fabric Analysis ;
Further Reading ;
Chapter 5: Petrographic Provenance Determination Introduction ;
Geological Characterisation of Ceramic Raw Materials ;
Provenance Resolution ;
Geological Literature & Fieldwork ;
Quantitative Provenance Determination ;
Micropalaeontology ;
Interpreting Provenance Data ;
Further Reading ;
Chapter 6: Reconstructing Ancient Ceramic Technology in Thin Section Introduction ;
Raw Material Selection & Procurement ;
Raw Material Processing & Paste Preparation ;
Forming Methods ;
Finishing ;
Drying ;
Firing ;
Ceramic Use & Function ;
Post-Depositional Alteration of Archaeological Ceramics ;
Further Reading ;
Chapter 7: Other Ceramic Materials in Thin Section Introduction ;
Architectural Ceramics ;
Unfired Clay Structures ;
Refractory Ceramics ;
Other Ceramic Objects ;
Petrography of Cementitious Materials ;
Stoneware, Fritware, Porcelain & Faience ;
Further Reading ;
Chapter 8: Instrumental Geochemistry of Archaeological Ceramics Introduction ;
The Chemical Composition of Ceramics ;
Equipment & Preparation ;
Quality Control ;
Descriptive Statistics ;
Choice of Elements ;
Normalisation, Standardisation & Transformation ;
Detecting Geochemical Patterning ;
Data Presentation ;
Reconciling Geochemical & Petrographic Data ;
Geochemical Provenance Interpretation ;
Geochemistry & Ceramic Technology ;
Further Reading ;
Chapter 9: Scanning Electron Microscopy & X-Ray Diffraction of Archaeological Ceramics Introduction ;
Scanning Electron Microscopy ;
SEM Geochemical Characterisation ;
SEM Mineralogical Characterisation ;
SEM versus Thin Section Petrography & Bulk Geochemistry ;
X-Ray Diffraction Analysis of Ceramics ;
Further Reading