Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thin Section Microscopy Applied to the Study of Archaeological Ceramics

  • Published:
Hyperfine Interactions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

For the characterization of archaeological ceramics, the study of thin sections under the polarizing microscope is a very efficient analytical technique. There are two properties of ceramics which can be analysed by thin sections, namely the mineralogical composition and the fabric. Both features show a considerable variety which permits a very detailed description of ceramic wares. With respect to the mineralogical composition, there is a wide variety of rock forming minerals, of heavy and ore minerals, fragments of stone, fossils, organic inclusions like straw or pieces of charcoal as well as artificial inclusions like slag or crushed pottery, which define with the temper of the pottery in much detail. The fabric also shows considerable differences in grain size, in the amount of temper, in the orientation of grains and other features, which provide further quantitative data on the properties of archaeological ceramics. From this information, the material can be well characterised, and conclusions as to the region of origin and the potter's techniques can often be drawn.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. el-Hinnawi, E., Methods of Chemical and Mineralogical Microscopy, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, London, New York, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Heinrich, E. W., Microscopic Identification of Minerals, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kerr, P. F., Optical Mineralogy, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Phillips, W. R., Mineral Optics, W.H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Phillips, W. R. and Griffen, D. T., Optical Mineralogy, the Nonopaque Minerals,W. H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Saggerson, E. P., Identification Tables for Minerals in Thin Sections, Longman, London, New York, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Shelly, D., Manual of Optical Mineralogy, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Winchell, A. N. and Winchell, H., Elements of Optical Mineralogy, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Riederer, J., Ansätze zur Bestimmung der Herkunft kulturgeschichtlicher Keramiken durch mikroskopische Untersuchungen, Veröffentlichungen des Brandenburgischen Landesmuseums für Ur-und Frühgeschichte 19(1995), 249–256.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Riederer, J., The Microscopic Analysis of Egyptian Pottery from the Old Kingdom, Akten des 4. Int. Ägypt. Kongr., München 1985, 1989, pp. 221–230.

  11. Riederer, J., Mineralogische Untersuchung an der Keramik vom Dürrnberg, Dürrnberg-Jahrb. Bd. II, 1974, pp. 169–189.

  12. Riederer, J., Dünnschliffuntersuchungen an rheinischem Steinzeug, In: E. Hähnel (ed.), Siegburger Steinzeug, Köln, 1992, pp. 43–50.

  13. Riederer, J., Die Kalifeldspäte der moldanubischen Granite, Neues Jahrb. Miner., 1965, pp. 291–339.

  14. Riederer, J., Keramologische Untersuchungen an Keramik von Eitzum, In: G. Schwarz-Mackensen (ed.), Die frühbandkeramische Siedlung bei Eitzum, Landkreis Wolfenbüttel, Vol. 45, Veröffentl. Braunschw. Landesmuseum, 1985, pp. 30–36.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Riederer, J., Die mikroskopische Untersuchung von Keramiken aus Zützen, Lkr. Dahme-Spreewald, Veröffentlichungen des Brandenburgischen Landesmuseums für Ur-und Frühgeschichte 30(1996), 121–125.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Riederer, J., Materialanalysen an archäologischen Keramiken aus Brandenburg, Archäologie in Berlin und Brandenburg 1997 (1998), 22–23.

  17. Riederer, J., Die mikroskopische Untersuchung der Keramik, In: Geisler (ed.), Das frühbairische Gräberfeld Straubing-Bajuwarenstraße, 1. Internationale Archäologie, Vol. 30, 1998, pp. 356–357.

  18. Tröger, W. E., Optische Bestimmung der gesteinsbildenden Mineralien, Schweizerbartsche Verlagsbuchandlung, Stuttgart, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kappel, I., Die Graphittonkeramik von Manching, In: W. Krämer (ed.), Die Ausgrabungen in Manching, Bd. 2, Franz Steiner Verlag GmbH, Wiesbaden, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Riederer, J., Private communication.

  21. Hope, C. A., Blauer, H. M. and Riederer, J., Recent Analyses of 18th Dynasty Pottery, In: Studien zur altägyptischen Keramik, Mainz, 1981, pp. 139–166.

  22. Riederer, J., The Microscopic Analysis of Calcite Tempered Pottery from Minshat Abu Omar, Cahiers de la Ceramique Egyptienne 3(1992), 34–37.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Riederer, J., Die mineralogische Untersuchung der römischen Amphoren aus Manching, In: W. E. Stöckli (ed.), Die Grob-und Importkeramik von Manching, Wiesbaden, 1979, pp. 205–213.

  24. Riederer, J., Eine Materialdatenbank antiker Amphoren, Beiträge zur Ur-und Frühgeschichte Mecklenburg-Vorpommerns 35(2000).

  25. Fink, D., Biersack, J. P. and Riederer, J., Messung der Tiefenverteilung offener Poren in Festkörpern, Berliner Beiträge zur Archäometrie 5(1980), 89–95.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rathgen-Forschungslabor, Schloß-Str. 1a, D 14059, Berlin, Germany

    J. Riederer

Authors
  1. J. Riederer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Riederer, J. Thin Section Microscopy Applied to the Study of Archaeological Ceramics. Hyperfine Interactions 154, 143–158 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HYPE.0000032029.24557.b1

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HYPE.0000032029.24557.b1

Search

Navigation