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Thermal Analysis of Early Neolithic Pottery From Tepe Ganj Dareh, Iran

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

A. Yelon ,
A. Saucier ,
J.-P. Larocque ,
P.E.L. Smith  and
P. Vandiver
A. Yelon
Affiliation:
Département de Génie Physique, Ùcole Polytechnique, P.O.Box 6079, Station A, Montréal (Québec) H3C 3A7, CANADA
A. Saucier
Affiliation:
Département de Génie Physique, Ùcole Polytechnique, P.O.Box 6079, Station A, Montréal (Québec) H3C 3A7, CANADA
J.-P. Larocque
Affiliation:
Département de Génie Physique, Ùcole Polytechnique, P.O.Box 6079, Station A, Montréal (Québec) H3C 3A7, CANADA
P.E.L. Smith
Affiliation:
Département de Génie Physique, Ùcole Polytechnique, P.O.Box 6079, Station A, Montréal (Québec) H3C 3A7, CANADA
P. Vandiver
Affiliation:
Département de Génie Physique, Ùcole Polytechnique, P.O.Box 6079, Station A, Montréal (Québec) H3C 3A7, CANADA
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Abstract

A series of pottery fragments from an early Neolithic site in Iran is analyzed to determire the original baking temperatures. Two magnetic techniques are used: remanent magnetization decay, and hysteresis loop analysis. The results are complementary, although some are, at first sight, contradictory. The causes of these apparent contradictions are explained. The analyses confirm that the pottery was baked under highly variable conditions, probably over open fires. Control of baking was poor, and there was considerable variability not only from one vessel to another but even from one zone to another on the same vessel. Our results suggest the need for caution in interpreting often ambiguous findings in this field of ancient technology.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 267: Symposium J – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology III , 1992 , 591
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

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