The occurrence and research potential of microfossils in inorganic archaeological materials

Quinn, Patrick

doi:10.1002/gea.20213

Cited by 36 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…In addition to the above conventional procedures, we also conducted micropaleontological analysis of constituent calcareous microfossils. As some researchers highlight, the study of microfossils represents a potential tool for determining the provenance of ceramics and raw materials involved in ceramic production, as well as for detecting human practices related to the selection and preparation of raw materials (Gibson & Woods, :20; Bernal & García, ; Ortega et al., ; Quinn & Day, ,; Quinn, ). In this manner, some include microfossil inclusions in their petrologic descriptions of pottery pastes (Barrios et al., ; Capel et al., ; Tsolakidou et al., ; Maritan et al., ; Martineau et al., ; Quinn & Day, ) and clays (Padial, Aguayo, & Moreno, ) as well as the alteration of microfossils during the firing of ceramics (Quinn, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raw Materials and Pottery Production at the Late Bronze and Iron Age Site of Puig de Sa Morisca, Mallorca, Spain

Santacreu

Mateu‐Vicens²

2012

Geoarchaeology

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This paper presents an analytical study of Late Bronze and Iron Age ceramics and natural clay deposits from the archaeological site of Puig de Sa Morisca in southwest Mallorca, Spain. In our study, we combine petrographic, micropaleontological, mineralogical (X-ray powder diffraction) and textural (laser particle size) analyses of sherds and local clays that may have been used as raw material in ceramic production. This approach allowed us to compare the ceramics' formal characteristics with those observed in nearby plastic clays and assess raw clay procurement and paste preparation. The results indicate the use of local (<500 m distance) calcareous clays throughout the Late Bronze and Iron ages. This raw material was mixed with other coarser clays or crushed calcite, as well as other calcareous tempers, such as breccias or calcarenites, located close to the site. The results demonstrate that the same clay deposit was used to make ceramic vessels following different technological choices and recipes. Thus, local communities established a strong connection with the same raw materials through time that were located within the potters' preferential range of exploitation. C 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raw Materials and Pottery Production at the Late Bronze and Iron Age Site of Puig de Sa Morisca, Mallorca, Spain

Santacreu

Mateu‐Vicens²

2012

Geoarchaeology

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“…Because diatom species were not determined, it is not possible to distinguish clays from marine or fluvial deposits. Identification of diatom species would not be conclusive, as pointed out by Quinn (, 282), because in this part of north‐western Europe, freshwater diatoms can be found in clay deposits close to the coast, where rivers discharge into the sea, and marine and brackish diatoms can be found some distance inland due to periodic flooding. The petrographic compositions, such as the occurrence of minerals, the grain sizes and the amount of inclusions, of different coastal clay deposits are variable.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anglo‐Saxon Style Pottery from the Northern Netherlands and North‐Western Germany: Fabrics and Finish, Regional and Chronological Patterns, and their Implications

2018

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This paper presents the results of a study of Anglo‐Saxon style pottery in the northern Netherlands and north‐western Germany, involving macroscopic and microscopic analysis of fabrics and finish. Both regions show similar developments in form and decoration in the pottery of the fourth and fifth centuries ad, the late Roman and Migration period, resulting in the typical decoration and shapes that are known as the Anglo‐Saxon style. In the northern Netherlands, this style is traditionally associated with Anglo‐Saxon immigrants. It has, however, been suggested that this style was, rather, part of an indigenous development in areas in the northern Netherlands where occupation was continuous, though influenced by stylistic developments in north‐western Germany. That hypothesis is supported by the analysis of fabrics and finish presented here. The characteristic of fabrics and surface treatment indicate technological continuity. The use of local clay sources for Anglo‐Saxon style pottery and for contemporary regional types indicates that most of the Anglo‐Saxon style pottery in the northern Netherlands was not brought by Anglo‐Saxon immigrants or as imports, but must have been made locally. That applies to settlements with continuous habitation, as well as settlements in the coastal area that were not inhabited during the fourth century ad.

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“…These microfossils should be as plentiful in the historical past as they are today. Microfossils can be used to provenance inorganic artifacts (Quinn, 2008) and their absence within a patina purportedly coming from the Jerusalem area would be suspicious since the entire city is situated upon marine carbonates.…”

Section: Calcareous Microfossilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental dust: A tool to study the patina of ancient artifacts

Ganor

Kronfeld

Feldman

et al. 2009

Journal of Arid Environments

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The occurrence and research potential of microfossils in inorganic archaeological materials

Cited by 36 publications

References 27 publications

Raw Materials and Pottery Production at the Late Bronze and Iron Age Site of Puig de Sa Morisca, Mallorca, Spain

Raw Materials and Pottery Production at the Late Bronze and Iron Age Site of Puig de Sa Morisca, Mallorca, Spain

Anglo‐Saxon Style Pottery from the Northern Netherlands and North‐Western Germany: Fabrics and Finish, Regional and Chronological Patterns, and their Implications

Environmental dust: A tool to study the patina of ancient artifacts

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