Multi-analytical Investigation of Early Bronze Age Cooking Pots with Triangular Handles (Tilbaşar, Turkey)

Abstract

Archaeometric studies covering the investigation of archaeological findings by analytical techniques are in a great demand particularly in last decades. This type of works represents a convenient and directive data basis in terms of achieving substantial knowledge regarding the characteristic ceramics of different civilizations. Being parallel to this, it was aimed to investigate the cooking pots with triangular handles (Early Bronze Age) from Tilbaşar Höyük (Gaziantep, Turkey) in an archaeometric way using multi-analytical methods within the present study. For that purpose, 14 representative samples of cooking pot (with triangular handles) were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy together with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS), petrography (optical microscopy), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and X-ray diffraction techniques. It was intended to identify the raw material contents and production features (e.g. firing temperature range, micro structural/chemical characteristics) of the ceramics. Considering the whole results, it was seen that the evident presence of primary calcite, and also the absence (or very limited degree) of vitrification in the micro structure suggested a firing temperature range of 700-800oC for the potsherds. Additionally, determination of the carbonates through the multi analytical techniques implied that the ceramics should have been produced by calcareous clays. In this context, it was predicted that the potsherds likely belong to a local and/or regional production (considering the geological formations of the region).