Early Bronze Age Plain Simple Wares of Tilbeshar (Turkey): Archaeometric Characterization

Year 2019, , 484 - 495, 28.06.2019

Murat Bayazit , Didem Çağine Elif Genç

https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.511354

Abstract

The present study reports the results obtained through an archaeometric
investigation on representative Early Bronze Age plain simple wares of
Tilbeshar which is located almost 32 km
southeast of Gaziantep (Turkey). The samples were characterized by XRD (X-ray
diffraction), thin section (optical microscopy), FTIR (Fourier Transformed
Infrared Spectroscopy), TG-DTA (Thermogravimetric Differential Thermal
Analysis) and SEM/EDX (scanning electron microcopy/energy dispersive X-ray
spectroscopy). The chemical composition of the samples showed that the
potsherds possessed high amount of CaO indicating use of calcareous clays.
Proving this data XRD, TG-DTA and FTIR analyses revealed the presence of
calcite, as well. Considering the mineral/phase contents of the samples, the
firing temperature of the potsherds was found to change in the range of 700-900^oC.
The appearance of neo-formations for most of the
samples suggested a firing temperature range of 800-900^oC for such
potsherds. SEM images of the samples showed that there was a very
low partial vitrification for some of the samples, while it was not observed
for the others. This observation approved the firing temperature ranges of the
samples. Petrography results suggested that the main rock type for the potsherds
was basalt (igneous rock) and the raw materials likely originated from mafic
rocks. Taking into account the whole data and the geological formation of the
region, it was predicted that the potsherds likely belonged to a local
production.  

Keywords

Archaeometry, Spectroscopy, Characterization, Ceramic, Tilbeshar (Turkey)

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