Byzantine and Ottoman pottery shards from Skopsko Kale, Republic of Macedonia (27 samples) were analyzed by infrared (IR) and micro-Raman spectroscopies. IR spectroscopy provided data for assessing the firing temperature of the ceramic body as well as the basic mineralogical composition, while micro-Raman spectroscopy was used for studying the glazes as well as for estimating the mineralogical composition of the ceramic body. The firing temperature of the Byzantine pottery was more uniform and ranged between 700 and 800 • C. In the case of the Ottoman pottery, a clear distinction between two different firing temperatures in the samples was made, thereby dividing them into two groups (700-800 and 800-900 • C). According to the previously established relationship between glaze composition and Raman parameters, the glazes in all analyzed samples were found to be lead-based, with firing temperature below 700 • C. A total of 25 different mineral phases was identified in the body of the ceramics. Some pigments were also identified in the pottery glazes. Oleic acid (oil) and apatite residues (protein?) were identified in one sample.

No abstract

Point‐to‐point micro‐Raman and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were employed for characterization of minerals present in the pottery body of 27 glazed Byzantine and Ottoman pottery shreds, excavated at two different archaeological sites in the Republic of Macedonia: in Skopje (Skopsko Kale) and in Prilep (Markovi Kuli and Sv. Atanas Church). The Raman spectra of 18 Byzantine samples (dating from 12th−14th century) and nine Ottoman samples (dating from 17th−19th century) revealed 26 different minerals. XRD measurements were further performed on the same powder samples to validate the mineralogical assessment obtained by point‐to‐point micro‐Raman spectroscopy. Although only 13 different mineral phases were obtained by the XRD, the results obtained from the Raman and XRD spectra for the most abundant minerals in the investigated pottery bodies match quite well. However, the identification of the less abundant minerals in the clay matrixes from the XRD data was very difficult, if at all possible. The results emphasize the specifics of the applied techniques and their limits. Additionally, wavelength dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy was used for the elemental analysis. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

No abstract