A COMPARATIVE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THE EARLIEST KILN SITES OF KORYǑ CELADON*

Four of the Koryǒ dynasty's earliest kiln sites are studied for the macroscopic, compositional, and microstructural characteristics of their celadon products. Recent excavation of Sǒri and surface investigation of Kangjin sites provided new materials for closer examination of the origin and early developments of celadon technology in traditional Korea. Two other sites, Wǒnhǔngni and Osari, with archaeological characteristics in common with the oldest layer of Sǒri, are also examined. Principal component analysis of body composition shows thai Sǒri and Kangjin had better control in their choice of raw materials whereas Wǒnhǔngnt and Osari had much wider scatter, showing the more experimental nature of their operation. The early Kangjin grouped out separately primarily because of their higher Al₂O₃ content, while X-ray diffraction patterns indicate they might have been fired at a higher temperature than other groups. The Korean method of two-step firing, first at a lower temperature to bake imglazed bodies and then at a higher temperature after glazing, is evident from the earliest operations in Kangjin.     

TESTING ASSUMPTIONS OF NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS: COMMUNITIES,WORKSHOPS AND PASTE PREPARATION IN YUCATAN,MEXICO*

Contemporary pottery and raw materials (N= 170) from three workshops in Ticul, Yucatán, were analysed by neutron activation to test the hypothesis that individual workshops that used their own clay sources could be identified by their pottery. Although the data failed to confirm the hypothesis, the results reinforced previous conclusions about the relationship of local communities of potters to the chemical patterning of pottery made in these communities.     

A STUDY OF ANCIENT CHINESE PORCELAIN WARES OF THE SONG‐YUAN DYNASTIES FROM CIZHOU AND DING KILNS WITH ENERGY DISPERSIVE X‐RAY FLUORESCENCE*

Multi‐variable statistical analysis based on energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence measurements on both porcelain body and glaze is employed to give clear and consistent classification of porcelain sherds from northern China of different styles from the Song‐Yuan dynasties (Ding and Cizhou styles), and also from the Sui‐Tang dynasties (Xing style). However, the observed separation is less clear for Cizhou style sherds produced at neighbouring kiln sites. Imitation Ding porcelain samples produced by ancient Cizhou potters are also analysed.     

The Application of Scanning X‐ray Fluorescence Microanalysis in the Examination of Cultural Materials

The use of a new analytical technique for the elemental characterization of artefacts is described. The new equipment is capable of X‐ray fluorescence analysis in conventional mode as well as for elemental scanning of small objects, fragments or microsamples. The Omicron, manufactured by Kevex Instruments Inc., is equipped with a microfocused X‐ray tube, which can be collimated to a 50 μ beam and used to scan objects over a maximum range of 256 × 256 pixels. False‐colour elemental distribution maps allow the user to image small features, differently pigmented areas, or whole objects in the machine completely non‐destructively. Analyses can be carried out in air, under helium or in vacuum. Two examples of the application of the new technique are described: first, to the surface decoration on a Greek Attic white ground lekythos; and, second, to the pigments used on a small painting, a ‘Pittura’, on copper by the Dutch artist, Frans van Mieris (1635–81) in the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF RED‐COLOURED SLIPS (ALMAGRA) ON ISLAMIC CERAMICS IN MUSLIM SPAIN*

Small objects found in Islamic (eleventh‐century) kilns excavated in Zaragoza (Spain) were studied to determine the nature of the red coating of almagra pottery. Ceramics with almagra decoration were completely coated with a glossy deep‐red layer, a slip, applied to the body before firing. Chemical and mineralogical studies were carried out, together with analysis of a surface treatment with organic compounds. The results of this study confirm that almagra ceramics were produced by means of a specific and elaborate process (slip preparation, firing and wax application), demonstrating the introduction of this slip into local production during the Islamic period.     

SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF SEVENTH‐CENTURY GLASS FRAGMENTS FROM THE CRYPTA BALBI IN ROME*

Inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, reflectance spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction were used to study seventh‐century AD glass fragments from the Crypta Balbi in Rome. All the samples were found to be silica‐soda‐lime glasses. Iron determines the colour of blue‐green, green and yellow‐green transparent glasses; chemical composition suggests deliberate addition of iron and/or manganese in about half the samples. Copper was found as the main colourant in red, pale blue and blue‐green opaque fragments; elemental copper acts as an opacifier in red glass, and calcium antimonate in white, pale blue and blue‐green glasses. Detection of antimony in transparent fragments suggests recycling of opaque mosaic tesserae.     

LEAD ISOTOPIC ANALYSIS OF EIGHTEENTH‐DYNASTY EGYPTIAN EYEPAINTS AND LEAD ANTIMONATE COLOURANTS*

New lead isotopic analyses are presented for lead antimonate coloured glass and faience from Amarna in Middle Egypt and dated to around 1350 BC. When compared to existing data, these suggest that Gebel Zeit on the Red Sea coast of Egypt may be the source for some of the lead antimonate colourants used in Egypt and possibly for the galena kohls of Eighteenth‐Dynasty date as well.     

CORRESPONDENCE AND DISCRIMINANT ANALYSES OF SAND AND SAND TEMPER COMPOSITIONS,TONTO BASIN,ARIZONA*

Geologists use petrographic modal analysis to relate fluvial sand composition to source rock composition, thus establishing provenance. Archaeologists seeking to establish provenance of sand temper in pottery can use similar petrographic methods, but their finer scale of investigation requires more precise statistical tools than those employed by geologists. A quantitative method for performing that task is presented. It utilizes correspondence analysis and discriminant analysis of logratio transformed point‐count data to define petrofacies, or sand temper resource procurement zones. The procedure is illustrated with sand and sand‐tempered sherd samples collected from the Tonto Basin, central Arizona; temporal trends in utilitarian ceramic production c. AD 100–1350 are reviewed.     

STABLE CARBON ISOTOPE MEASUREMENTS OF THE CARBOXYL CARBONS IN BONE COLLAGEN*

In order to explore the possibility that intramolecular differences in the δ¹³C value of bone collagen can provide useful infomation for isotopic dietary analysis, a method for reliably measuring the δ¹³C value of the peptide-bonded carboxyl carbons in collagen was developed and applied to a wide range of modem and ancient species, including humans. Carboxyl carbons were selectively removed as CO₂ by decarboxylation of collagen hydrolysates with ninhydrin (2,2-dihydroxy-l,3-indanedione). Carboxyl carbons were usually isotopically heavier than the total carbon in the collagen, with differences ranging from -0.9 to 4.0%c. Animals at higher trophic levels and with more positive δ¹⁵N values usually had smaller differences than the lower animals while humans had the largest range, reflecting their larger range of diets.