DOI article:
Daszkiewicz, Małgorzata: An archaeometric study of ceramic and clay samples from Palmyra
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26419#0014
2 Małgorzata Daszkiewicz - An Archaeometric Study of Ceramic and Clay Samples from Palmyra
and water absorption, all performed before and after firing at temperatures of 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000
and 1100° C (Daszkiewicz, Jelitto 1994). Compared with data obtained from ceramic samples, these
results allow us to maintain with a high degree of probability that the red pottery of type E was produced
locally in Palmyra (Daszkiewicz, Jelitto, Raabe, Investigations on a Red Clay Samplefrom Castle Mound
in Palmyra, in preparation).
This result is of considerable importance. The pottery in question, mainly cooking pots, is met
frequently in Syria in the Roman period and after, and known as Brittle Ware. No other close source
of the raw clay used in its manufacture has been identified so far.
Until April 1994 fifty-three potsherds from Palmyra, and two sherds from Qasr al-Hayr East for
comparison, have been examined. The breakdown is as follows: all 23 samples of common ware are
made of clay of groups B:C or C; all 9 fragments of table ware are of mixed clay; the cooking pots
(21 samples) are all from clay of type E.
It is therefore highly probable that all material under investigation was produced in Palmyra out of
local clay. While most vessels are from marly clay of the type found in the Valley of Tombs, and table
ware were made of the same with the admixture of red clay, all cooking pots are of the rare red clay as
found under the Castle Hill. Of course, within each group of vessels sharing the same matrix there might
be variations of formula used (that is, a specific proportion of the plastic matrix and clastic additions),
depending for instance on the vessel’s function, as it happens in paticular with amphora fragments
(Daszkiewicz, Krogulska, Raabe 1993).
It is advisable to complete these findings with chemical analysis of ceramic sherds as well as marly
and red clay samples from Palmyra. This is being done in collaboration with G. Schneider from
Arbeitsgruppe Archaeometrie at FU Berlin. The results of X-ray fluorescence tests for bulk and trace
elements conducted in his laboratory should help to verify and precise the hypothesis of local production
of pottery in Palmyra.
and water absorption, all performed before and after firing at temperatures of 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000
and 1100° C (Daszkiewicz, Jelitto 1994). Compared with data obtained from ceramic samples, these
results allow us to maintain with a high degree of probability that the red pottery of type E was produced
locally in Palmyra (Daszkiewicz, Jelitto, Raabe, Investigations on a Red Clay Samplefrom Castle Mound
in Palmyra, in preparation).
This result is of considerable importance. The pottery in question, mainly cooking pots, is met
frequently in Syria in the Roman period and after, and known as Brittle Ware. No other close source
of the raw clay used in its manufacture has been identified so far.
Until April 1994 fifty-three potsherds from Palmyra, and two sherds from Qasr al-Hayr East for
comparison, have been examined. The breakdown is as follows: all 23 samples of common ware are
made of clay of groups B:C or C; all 9 fragments of table ware are of mixed clay; the cooking pots
(21 samples) are all from clay of type E.
It is therefore highly probable that all material under investigation was produced in Palmyra out of
local clay. While most vessels are from marly clay of the type found in the Valley of Tombs, and table
ware were made of the same with the admixture of red clay, all cooking pots are of the rare red clay as
found under the Castle Hill. Of course, within each group of vessels sharing the same matrix there might
be variations of formula used (that is, a specific proportion of the plastic matrix and clastic additions),
depending for instance on the vessel’s function, as it happens in paticular with amphora fragments
(Daszkiewicz, Krogulska, Raabe 1993).
It is advisable to complete these findings with chemical analysis of ceramic sherds as well as marly
and red clay samples from Palmyra. This is being done in collaboration with G. Schneider from
Arbeitsgruppe Archaeometrie at FU Berlin. The results of X-ray fluorescence tests for bulk and trace
elements conducted in his laboratory should help to verify and precise the hypothesis of local production
of pottery in Palmyra.