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The Earliest High‐Fired Glazed Ceramic in China: Evidence from a Glazed Ceramic Sample from the Lajia Site, Qinghai Province
Author(s) -
Zhou X. Q.,
Cui J. F.,
Ren X. Y.,
Wang Q. Q.,
Du W.,
Du Z. W.,
Liu X. Y.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/arcm.12447
Subject(s) - glaze , ceramic , energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy , materials science , microstructure , mineralogy , scanning electron microscope , metallurgy , composite material , geology
In the Majiayao cultural stratum of the Lajia site in Minhe County, Qinghai Province, much earthenware of rich variety and strong character has been found, among which the most special item is a suspected glazed white ceramic fragment. This study investigates this ceramic sherd and many other overfired objects. Energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy – energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction and thermodilatometry were employed to analyse the composition, microstructure, phase composition and firing temperature of the white ceramic. In addition to large condensed glaze droplets, the white ceramic showed a thin and uneven glaze layer, which might represent the earliest results of the exploration of glaze‐making technology by Lajia inhabitants, and provide a new perspective on the study of the origin of Chinese proto‐porcelains.