Geochemical studies of the ancient Indian glazed ware (original) (raw)
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Black Gloss Pottery: Production Sites and Technology in Northern Etruria. Part II: Gloss Technology.
Gliozzo E., Kirkman I.W., Pantos E., Memmi Turbanti I., 2004
The present study aims to understand the reasons for the visual differences of black gloss pottery found in northern Etruria. The results obtained by conventional (scanning electron microscope, electron microprobe) and synchrotron (X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy) techniques indicate that the thickness, porosity or chemical composition of the different types of gloss cannot be used as the principal distinguishing factor. The size of quartz or feldspar crystals may well be a critical factor responsible for the matt effect in some samples, while the range of mixtures of iron compounds indicated by XRD and XAS could be the reason for differences in colour and reflectivity. The Fe L-edge XAS results in particular show that a correlation does exist between the oxidation state characteristics and the visual appearance. The Si, Fe and Al contents seem to further discriminate the different types of gloss that have differing visual appearances.
A Study on the Painted Grey Ware
Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology, 2018
This paper examines the morphological and technological features of the Painted Grey Ware (hereafter PGW) that characterises the Iron Age in North India in order to better understand its historical significance. While this diagnostic type of ceramics has been widely regarded as having a great potentiality for understanding the Iron Age society in North India, very few examinations on the ceramic evidence itself have been made in recent years, while there were vigorous discussions on PGW and relevant issues back in the 1960s and 1970s (Gaur ed. 1994; Dikshit 1969, 1973). Unless the origin, developments and decline of PGW are well examined based on the increasing data set, the historical significance of PGW cannot be elucidated. This paper attempts to present a starting point for further studies and researches.
Multi – Analytical Characterization of XVII Century Mughal Glaze Tiles from Northern India
2017
Glazed tile art work is a technique that has been employed for decoration in most of the Mughal monuments during 16 – 17th Century in India. Dakhni Sarai is one of the finest and best preserved specimens of Mughal caravan sarais from India. Glaze tile samples of Dakhni Sarai were analyzed for glaze segments and colours that were used during the Mughal era. The samples were studied using stereomicroscopic analysis, EMPA – WDS, SEM EDX and by thermal analysis using DTA/TGA. The EMPA-WDS results indicated the usage of lead colorants – tin for yellow glazes, copper cobalt for blue glazes, and a mixture of two for green glaze tiles. The thickness and slip fusion of the tiles with the inner have also been studied. The result showed that oxides of copper/cobalt/lead used as colorant in varied proportion have imparted color to the glaze under different firing environment and temperature. The presence of copper/cobalt could be either due to its deliberate addition as part of the manufacturin...
The Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2008
Previously published results have preliminarily characterised the prehistoric production (12the3rd century B.C.) of black slipped pottery recovered from the excavations of Gotihawa, in Kapilbastu District in Southern Nepal. Some clayey materials, still used nowadays by local potters for producing vessels, have been collected in the surroundings of the site and analysed. Two different ceramic classes have been particularly investigated: the so-called Black Slipped Ware (BSW) and the Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW). So far it has not been possible to define clearly distinctive markers of these on the basis of either archaeological studies or archaeometric analyses. The main result obtained for the NBPW and BSW pastes is the high compatibility with the examined clays. The use of local clays for artefacts manufacturing is therefore assured. More interesting information is obtained by analysing the glossy layers of the two classes. Three groups of glosses have been evidenced in which the differences are related to the different amounts of potassium, iron and aluminium oxides. The glosses of the Al-group present values of aluminium higher than the corresponding pastes; in the AlFe-group glosses the quantities of aluminium and iron are very high, and finally in the third group (KAlFe) all three elements are more abundant than in the pastes. Practically all the BSW glosses fall in the AlFe group, while the NPBW glosses are distributed in the three groups. Other information regarding working techniques, in particular the firing conditions of the artefacts, have to be clarified in order to assess the whole manufacturing process. The detailed reconstruction of the firing techniques of such artefacts with the usual analytical methodologies (XRF, XRD and observation in thin section) is highly problematic due to the peculiar features of the samples. The low calcium content gives rise to an extremely simple mineralogical composition, without any of the calcium silicates which usually form during firing, and give indications on the firing temperature. Moreover, the absence of crystalline iron oxides in the diffractograms limits the possibility to evaluate the firing temperature to the sole estimate of illite content. The determination of the firing atmosphere is mainly based on a visual examination of the colour of the sample pastes and slips. In an attempt to better define the range of firing temperatures, we have chosen to use Mössbauer spectroscopy on the basis of the high content of iron of the samples. In fact, 57 Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy allows the identification of mineral phases to be used as a ''mineralogical thermometer'', such as spinel phases, hercynite and metallic iron. Also, the calculation of the reduction index (Fe 2þ /Fe TOT ) yields interesting information regarding the firing technology, and particularly the control of the firing atmosphere by the potter. These results seem to be possibly linked to previous data obtained from the EDS chemical analyses of the above-mentioned three groups of slips.
Sasanian Glazed Ware from Western India
Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology, 2018
The Sasanian Glazed ware is a group of ceramics found in the early historic period in West Asia. These are generally associated with torpedo jars in western India spanning between 3rd and 7th century AD. The ceramic is characterised by a blue glaze surface coat, which degrades and gives a golden‐ yellowish iridescent appearance along with an equally degraded fabric. Its shapes found in western India are mostly jugs, small bowls and dishes, and jar. Diagnostic sherds are reported in the form of bases (with slight concavity at the base/ bottle base), handles (variety ranges from small twisted handles to large double handle, which is flattened). The core is invariably creamish and powdery, with its colour equivalents as 2.5Y 8/4 and 10 YR 8/4 as per the Munsell Colour Chart for Soil Colour (1994). The paper deals with understanding and recording of these glazed wares that are found in western India from the excavated sites of Vadnagar (Rawat 2011) and Kanmer (Kharakwal et al. 2012).
Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology
As NBPW was discovered for the first time from the northern part of India; and due to its black color and polished/glazed appearance it was named as Northern Black Polished Ware. Although the surface color of 90% of NBPW borders around jet black and brownish black, the remaining 10% range between gold, gold-blue, silver, pink, brown black, steel blue, bronze, orange, purple, deep red, violet, etc. Excavations at Kausambi and Rajghat in Uttar Pradesh, Rajgir, Sonepur, Chirand, and Oriup in Bihar, Chandraketugarh, and Mangalkot in Bengal and several other sites yielded such varied NBPW sherds. Similarly the finds of NBPW is neither limited to north India nor the polish and glaze has been consistent throughout. Agrawal (2009) rightly said, NBPW is an enigmatic ceramic and its very name is a bit anachronistic because it is neither northern, nor polished, nor even black! In spite of this fact the frequency of black shade and color is significantly higher than other shades and color, regarding, the term "polished" used in its nomenclature it may be said that irrespective of shades and color its quality is more or less constant wherever it is found.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2017
Eighteen glazed objects from Nimrud, Hasanlu and Borsippa dated to a period from the ninth to sixth century BCE were analysed by micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and micro-Raman spectroscopy (μ-Raman). While calcium antimonate (CaSb 2 O 6) and lead pyroantimonate (Pb 2 Sb 2 O 7) were the main white and yellow opacifiers of the glazes, respectively, white sodium antimonate (NaSbO 3) was also sporadically observed in the Nimrud glazes. Copper sulphide associated with cassiterite (SnO 2) was used as colouring agentor probably as opacifierin a green glaze from Hasanlu. Cassiterite associated with the slag of Cu-Sn copper alloys was also observed in a green glaze from Nimrud suggesting a close tie between metallurgy and glaze-making. Pyromorphite (Pb 5 (PO 4) 3 Cl) and arsenian pyromorphite were observed in spherical forms embedded in the yellow glazes of Nimrud and Borsippa.
Ceramic Analysis and the Indus Civilization. A Review
Walking with the Unicorn. Social Organization and Material Culture in Ancient South Asia – Jonathan Mark Kenoyer Felicitation Volume, 2018
Jonathan Mark Kenoyer has a long history of work with the ceramic vessels of the Indus Civilization and co-authored the most comprehensive assessments of the pottery from Mohenjo-daro yet attempted (Dales and Kenoyer 1986). For archaeologists, pottery is one of the most significant sources of data, not only for the durability and abundance of ceramic artefacts in the archaeological record, but also for the vast range of information on ancient societies that can be inferred from its study. Amongst various approaches to ceramic analysis, two main methods have dominated the field: the morphological approach, where pottery assemblages are grouped according to macroscopic attributes; and scientific analysis, where ceramics are understood in terms of composition and technologies. Even though the latter approach has been tentatively used in the study of ceramic industries in South Asia since the 1930s, it has become significant only in the past three decades. This contribution reviews the use and development of geochemical and petrographic methods for the study of South Asian ceramic traditions, with special emphasis on assemblages produced and used during the Urban and Post-Urban phases of the Indus Civilization (2500-1600 BC).
Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2008
Previously published results have preliminarily characterised the prehistoric production (12th–3rd century B.C.) of black slipped pottery recovered from the excavations of Gotihawa, in Kapilbastu District in Southern Nepal. Some clayey materials, still used nowadays by local potters for producing vessels, have been collected in the surroundings of the site and analysed. Two different ceramic classes have been particularly investigated: the so-called Black Slipped Ware (BSW) and the Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW). So far it has not been possible to define clearly distinctive markers of these on the basis of either archaeological studies or archaeometric analyses. The main result obtained for the NBPW and BSW pastes is the high compatibility with the examined clays. The use of local clays for artefacts manufacturing is therefore assured. More interesting information is obtained by analysing the glossy layers of the two classes. Three groups of glosses have been evidenced in which the differences are related to the different amounts of potassium, iron and aluminium oxides. The glosses of the Al-group present values of aluminium higher than the corresponding pastes; in the AlFe-group glosses the quantities of aluminium and iron are very high, and finally in the third group (KAlFe) all three elements are more abundant than in the pastes. Practically all the BSW glosses fall in the AlFe group, while the NPBW glosses are distributed in the three groups. Other information regarding working techniques, in particular the firing conditions of the artefacts, have to be clarified in order to assess the whole manufacturing process. The detailed reconstruction of the firing techniques of such artefacts with the usual analytical methodologies (XRF, XRD and observation in thin section) is highly problematic due to the peculiar features of the samples. The low calcium content gives rise to an extremely simple mineralogical composition, without any of the calcium silicates which usually form during firing, and give indications on the firing temperature. Moreover, the absence of crystalline iron oxides in the diffractograms limits the possibility to evaluate the firing temperature to the sole estimate of illite content. The determination of the firing atmosphere is mainly based on a visual examination of the colour of the sample pastes and slips. In an attempt to better define the range of firing temperatures, we have chosen to use Mössbauer spectroscopy on the basis of the high content of iron of the samples. In fact, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy allows the identification of mineral phases to be used as a “mineralogical thermometer”, such as spinel phases, hercynite and metallic iron. Also, the calculation of the reduction index (Fe2+/FeTOT) yields interesting information regarding the firing technology, and particularly the control of the firing atmosphere by the potter. These results seem to be possibly linked to previous data obtained from the EDS chemical analyses of the above-mentioned three groups of slips.
The Chronology of Northern Black Polished Ware : Recent Perspectives
The Northern Black Polished Ware culture is an urban Iron Age culture of the Indian Subcontinent. In Indian Archaeology for the first time Northern Black Polished Ware has been reported from Bhita in the year of 1911-12 1 and since then it has been recovered from in different part of India the ware has been reported from since then it has recovered from different parts of India especially from northern India. Because of its initial discovery from the northern part of India; it's black colour; and polished/glazed appearance of the term Northern Black Polished Ware coined for this type of ceramic industry.