Analytical investigation of archaeological pottery fragments excavated from Porunthal, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Within the framework of a technological study of pottery production of Porunthal, Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, India, the chemical composition and mineralogy of the 7 potteries of different varieties from that archaeological site were studied using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis-derivative thermogravimetry (TGA-DTG), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS). The analytical data obtained from several analyses were used to determine the mineral transformations during firing, such as quartz, feldspar, and iron oxides (hematite and magnetite), firing temperature, and firing conditions. The results of all the techniques confirmed that all the samples were manufactured by the artisans locally with the same raw materials and also were fired at the same temperature.

Microbial activity and studies on excavated megalithic micaceous potsherds from Peninsular India

“…In the thermal analysis of potsherds, during the secondary heating, the exothermic reactions occur at a temperature that is higher than the temperature of the first heating. This consideration is exclusively exploited in the thermal characterization of potsherds through DTA-TGA techniques [51][52][53][54]. Moreover, mostly low-temperature fired ancient potsherds may undergo several solid-state chemical reactions when they are in contact with soils, minerals, moisture, and gases during their longtime burial.…”