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

Abstract

The present study reports the results obtained through an archaeometric investigation on representative Early Bronze Age tripod vessels belonging to 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 700-900oC. The appearance of neo-formations for most of the samples suggested a firing temperature range of 800-900oC 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.