Thin Section Analysis Ceramics

Alternatively non cubic ceramics can be prepared as thin sections also known as petrography for examination by polarized transmitted light microscopy.

Thin section analysis ceramics.

These include plaster mortar mudbricks and lithic implements. Archaeological ceramics analysis techniques include thin section petrography geochemistry scanning electron microscopy and organic residue analysis. Key learning outcomes are an appreciation of the role of ceramic analysis in archaeology and specific skills in the interpretation of ceramics in thin section. The course consists of lectures and laboratory classes which follow daily themes.

Green clay sand 13 pores 4 clay 83 natural distribution of sand grain sizes in a clay deposit natural distribution added sand high resolution film scanner scans entire thin section for image analysis. In this technique the specimen is sawed to 1 mm thick glued to a microscope slide and ground or sawed e g by microtome to a thickness x approaching 30 µm. Thin section petrography of stone and ceramic cultural materials by chandra reedy. Thin section ceramic petrography is a versatile interdisciplinary analytical tool for the characterization and interpretation of archaeological pottery and related artefacts including ceramic building materials refractories and plaster.

Focusing in particular on ceramic petrography the module provides in depth practical training on the principles of this versatile geoarchaeological approach and its role in the interpretation of pottery provenance and manufacturing technology. Isbn 978 1 9049 8233 3 london. Thin section analysis identifies mineralogical characteristics of non plastic inclusions according to their optical properties as well as void shapes and locations surface treatments and particle. Thin section archaeological petrography can be applied to a range of other artefact types in addition to ceramics.