An archaeometric investigation of early and middle bronze age pottery from the upper meander basin in southwestern anatolia

Abstract

We present the results of a comprehensive mineralogical and geochemical (archaeometrical) investigation of ceramics dating to the Early Bronze Age II (2600/2500-2200 BC) and the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1600 BC) from sites located in the Upper Meander Basin of Denizli province in southwestern Anatolia. We analyzed the mineralogical and petrographical characteristics of the samples using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical microscopy, and we examined the chemical compositions with X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). In general, the primary components of the ceramics include coarse-grained quartz, biotite, muscovite, pyroxene, plagioclase, and metamorphic rock fragments; we estimate a firing temperature under 800°C. The ceramics appear to be locally manufactured, given the close relationship between their mineralogical properties and the local geological structure and topography. Our analysis indicates that people living in the mountainous, plateau, and lowland areas each preferred different clay deposits in their pottery production. All of these areas, however, shared similar production technologies. © 2018 MAA.