Thin Section Analysis Ceramics

Focusing in particular on ceramic petrography the module provides in depth practical training on the principles of this versatile geoarchaeological approach and its role in the interpretation of pottery provenance and manufacturing technology.

Thin section analysis ceramics.

Thin section archaeological petrography can be applied to a range of other artefact types in addition to ceramics. Key learning outcomes are an appreciation of the role of ceramic analysis in archaeology and specific skills in the interpretation of ceramics in thin section. Green clay sand 13 pores 4 clay 83 natural distribution of sand grain sizes in a clay deposit natural distribution added sand high resolution film scanner scans entire thin section for image analysis. Thin section ceramic petrography is a versatile interdisciplinary analytical tool for the characterization and interpretation of archaeological pottery and related artefacts including ceramic building materials refractories and plaster.

The course consists of lectures and laboratory classes which follow daily themes. The workshop will consist of a hands on short course on thin section petrographic analysis of archaeological ceramics together with hands on observation and testing of the structure optical microscopy chemical tests composition pxrf and properties of sherds and raw materials participants will gain skills in low cost but highly effective methods for identifying the mineralogical constituents of ceramic materials discerning variability in materials and relating that variability to. These include plaster mortar mudbricks and lithic implements. Alternatively non cubic ceramics can be prepared as thin sections also known as petrography for examination by polarized transmitted light microscopy.

Thin section analysis identifies mineralogical characteristics of non plastic inclusions according to their optical properties as well as void shapes and locations surface treatments and particle. Isbn 978 1 9049 8233 3 london. Digital image analysis of ceramic thin section. Archaeological ceramics analysis techniques include thin section petrography geochemistry scanning electron microscopy and organic residue analysis.