Radioanalytical Techniques in Archaeology:

Pottery and Raw Clay Analysis

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
Analysis
 Introduction:
Andreas G. Orphanides, Radio analytical
Techniques in Archaeology: Pottery and Raw
Clay Analysis. Nicosia: AGO Publications, 1985,
104 pages, 10 figures Radio analytical
Techniques in Archaeology: Pottery and Raw
Clay Analysis aims to serve as a reference book
to archaeologists who intend to apply radio
analytical techniques.
The first chapter is a brief survey of fundamental
concepts in chemistry.
The second discusses analytical techniques that have been used in
archaeology. Special attention is given to the specific types of materials
analyzed by each technique, the chemical elements each technique is
best suited to analyze, and whether or not the technique is destructive to
the sample; the advantages and disadvantages of each technique are also
outlined.
The third chapter concentrates on
analytical techniques in relationship to
pottery and raw clay. A review of the
relevant literature indicates the best
techniques for such analyses, the types
of questions investigators ask, specific
problems that might arise from the study
of analytical data, and examples of the
ranges of variation.
Analytical chemistry, which is concerned with the
composition and identity of materials in terms of
compounds or elements, has been highly important and
useful in archaeology. Chemical analyses of ancient
materials provide information on dating,
manufacturing techniques and provenance, as well as
on authenticity of allegedly ancient artifacts. By being
treated statistically, analytical data give information on
a variety of archaeological problems, such as:
(1) Technology in antiquity in terms of the nature of
raw materials used and the manufacture of artifacts.
(2) Interactions between sites on both
intraregional and interregional levels, by
comparing elemental compositional patterns
between artifacts and raw materials. Trade routes
can be established, whereas stylistic similarities
between artifacts from different sites or regions
can be attributed to either trade or diffusion.
(3) Identification of goods stored or traded,
by analyzing their remains in the interior of
pots. Such identification can increase our
understanding and knowledge of economic
exchanges in antiquity. These exchanges can
be clarified through chemical analysis of
ancient coins, since economic changes
could be illustrated by sudden
compositional changes in such coins.
There are four stages in the analytical process:
(i) Sampling Sample is a small
portion of a relatively large quantity
of material, of which the composition
is representative of the whole
material. When dealing with
“heterogeneous” materials such as
clay or pottery, it is necessary to
select a large number of portions
from different parts of the bulk,
which must then be combined.
Special attention is required in
preserving samples in unchanged
conditions during collection,
transport and storage.
(ii) Sample preparation This stage
brings the sample into a form suitable
for analysis, so that the constituents
or properties of interest can be
measured. Sample preparation is
related to the analytical technique
applied, as well as to the properties to
be analyzed.
(iii) Determination of constituents and
measurement of their relative amounts A
variety of classical and physical
techniques have been applied for this
purpose. (These techniques are presented
and discussed in this book.) There are
three categories of elements to be
analyzed: Major or Matrix (over 1
percent), Minor (1–0.01 percent) and
Trace Elements (less than 0.01 percent,
counted in ppm or ppb).
(iv) Calculation, evaluation
and determination of
analytical data A number of
statistical procedures and
computer
programs/software has been
designed and used for this
purpose. (Such procedures
and programs, which have
been used by several
investigators, are being
discussed in this book.)