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DARK AND SHINY: THE DISCOVERY OF CHROMITE IN BRONZE AGE FAIENCE*
Author(s) -
GROOT N. C. F.,
DIK J.,
VAN DER KOOIJ G.,
ALKEMADE P. F. A.,
SIVEL V. G. M.,
TICHELAAR F. D.
Publication year - 2006
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/j.1475-4754.2006.00253.x
Subject(s) - glaze , chromite , augite , bronze , bronze age , materials science , metallurgy , archaeology , geography , ceramic , quartz , plagioclase
The Late Bronze Age (1550–1200 bc ) in the Near East was a period of cultural development, international trade and technological innovation, notably in metallurgy and silicate technology. As a spin‐off of the new glass technology, new colorants were also applied to faience glazes presumably to increase their aesthetic value. Here, we report on the presence of chromite minerals in the glaze of a faience vessel from Deir ‘Alla, Jordan, 1200 years earlier than reported so far. Importantly, chromite was not only used as a greyish pigment, but also as a nucleating agent for spherulitic crystallization of augite in the amorphous glaze. These synthetic augite formations give a unique, sparkly appearance to the faience vessel, apparently imitating a metallic look. The making of such an intricate glaze and its contemporary significance reflect not only the high level but also the appreciation of innovation in that region at that time.