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Raw Materials and Pottery Production at the Late Bronze and Iron Age Site of P uig de S a M orisca, M allorca, S pain
Author(s) -
Albero Santacreu D.,
Mateu Vicens G.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
geoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1520-6548
pISSN - 0883-6353
DOI - 10.1002/gea.21409
Subject(s) - pottery , ceramic , petrography , calcareous , calcite , raw material , mineralogy , geology , archaeology , metallurgy , chemistry , materials science , geography , paleontology , organic chemistry
This paper presents an analytical study of L ate B ronze and I ron A ge ceramics and natural clay deposits from the archaeological site of P uig de Sa M orisca in southwest M allorca, S pain. In our study, we combine petrographic, micropaleontological, mineralogical ( X ‐ray powder diffraction) and textural (laser particle size) analyses of sherds and local clays that may have been used as raw material in ceramic production. This approach allowed us to compare the ceramics’ formal characteristics with those observed in nearby plastic clays and assess raw clay procurement and paste preparation. The results indicate the use of local (<500 m distance) calcareous clays throughout the L ate B ronze and I ron ages. This raw material was mixed with other coarser clays or crushed calcite, as well as other calcareous tempers, such as breccias or calcarenites, located close to the site. The results demonstrate that the same clay deposit was used to make ceramic vessels following different technological choices and recipes. Thus, local communities established a strong connection with the same raw materials through time that were located within the potters’ preferential range of exploitation.