Chemical characterization of ancient pottery from sudan by x‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (xrf), electron microprobe analyses (empa) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS)*

Abstract

Sixty-four sherds and seven natural clays from prehistoric sites in northwestern Sudan have been submitted to petrological and chemical analysis using XRF spectrometry, EMPA and ICP-MS. According to their texture, the sherds form five different groups. The high contents of P 2 O 5 (more than 0.5 wt%) discerned in 19 samples and the variation of the P 2 O 5 content in two samples of the same vessel can be explained by post-depositional processes or by the ancient organic contents (e.g., milk) of the vessel. Chemical classification of the pottery bulk suggests that vessels were made locally, as only sherds from the same area show homogeneity of data.

MPI‐DING reference glasses for in situ microanalysis: New reference values for element concentrations and isotope ratios

“…The samples were used as reference materials for B, Al and Mg analyses of extraterrestrial materials by SIMS, EPMA and ICPMS [ Hoppe et al , 2001; Mostefaoui et al , 2002]. EPMA major element data of mid‐ocean ridge basalts and glass shards have been calibrated with MPI‐DING glasses by Grevemeyer et al [2002], Horz et al [2004], and Klein et al [2004]. The accuracy of microscopic synchrotron induced XRF (μSR‐XRF) was verified by analyzing a series of MPI‐DING glasses [ Smit et al , 2004].…”

Discriminating pottery production by image analysis: a case study of Mesolithic and Neolithic pottery from Al Khiday (Khartoum, Sudan)

“…Alkali concentrations, due to the presence of granite fragments, has been detected in the chemical analysis of the "early Khartoum" (Arkell, 1949) pottery from Saggai and related sites (Francaviglia and Palmieri, 1983). Granite temper, sometimes associated with the use of chaff, has also been attested in other sites in both centralnorthern Sudan, at Sarurab (Khabir, 1987), Kadero (Ch1odnicki, 1989), Kadada (De Paepe, 1986), Dongola (Hays and Hassan, 1974), in the region of Wadi Howar, Ennedi Erg, Jebel Tageru, WadiHariq and Laqiya (Jesse, 2003;Klein et al, 2004), Kerma (De Paepe, 1988), Shabona (Brandt, 1974) and in the Egyptian Western Desert at Nabta Playa (Zedeño, 2001), although in some cases the ceramic pastes also show the sporadic presence of other types of inclusions, not found in the samples from Al Khiday. Two exceptions are the incised wavy line potsherds (second half of 6th millennium cal.…”

“…Previous archaeometric analysis carried out on prehistoric pottery found in several sites in central-northern Sudan has shown the widespread use, in both the Mesolithic and Neolithic, of similar ceramic pastes, obtained from a kaolinite-based clay containing or tempered with quartz inclusions (Francaviglia and Palmieri, 1983;Khabir, 1987Khabir, , 1991aKhabir, , 1991bDe Paepe, 1986, 1988Ch1odnicki, 1989;Zedeño, 2001;Klein et al, 2004).…”

X‐Ray Techniques

“…XRF has been used in many studies of ceramic materials [Barone et al, 2003;Ferretti, 2000;Klein et al, 2004;LaBrecque et al, 1998;Leung and Lao, 2000;Mirti, 2000;Pillay et al, 2000;Yu, 2000;Puyandeera et al, 1997;Yap and Vijayakumar, 1990]. As ceramics can be linked by the characteristics of the clay or temper, XRF can be used to determine the characteristic elements in ceramics of known and unknown provenance.…”