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Spectroscopic and X-Ray Based Microstructural Investigation of the Early-Harappan Potsherds and Estimation of Firing Temperature from Kunal Archaeological Site, India
Journal
International Journal of Conservation Science
ISSN
2067533X
Date Issued
2022-01-01
Author(s)
Kanth, Aditya Prakash
Singh, Manager Rajdeo
Ganaraj, Kuntikana
Abstract
In the present study, the archaeological potsherds excavated from Northern India’s Early-Harappan Kunal site (3800 - 2200 BCE) were examined to understand the microstructural features of the potsherds and to estimate the firing temperature using Light microscopy, Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP), Scanning Electron Microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). For the characterization of ancient potsherds and understanding their strength and stability, mapping for chemical composition and estimation of firing temperature was carried out. Both low firing temperature and high firing temperature were estimated to ascertain the oxidizing and reducing conditions for firing based on mineralogical analysis and vibrational assignments. Fast quenching and ill firing were also noticed in one specimen. MIP showed porosity (n) of ≈ 16% as well as a void ratio (e) of 0.19. The analysis indicated that the Harappan potters were very proficient in pottery-making skills.
Volume
13
Subjects