Archaeometric Study of Masonry Red Bricks and Pottery Water Pipes from the Tanks of A Coptic Water Wheel, Sheikh Hamad, Athribis, Sohag, Egypt

Abstract

 Characterization of red brick and water pottery pipes which were built on the ruins of Ptolemy XII temple Sheikh Hamad, Athribis, Sohag, Egypt.  The archaeometric study was performed using a USB digital microscope, Polarizing Light Microscope (PLM), Powder X-ray (XRD) diffraction, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with EDX.  Red bricks used in the construction of water wheel tanks were highly burnt and more durable.  The detection of calcite in the components of water pottery pipes confirms the incomplete process of its burning.The chemical composition of red bricks and pottery pipes confirm that Nile clay was the resource of their raw materials.