Investigation of a diagnostic group of Bronze Age pottery (Dark Rimmed Orange Bowl ware) from the upper Tigris Valley, Turkey

• Published in: X-ray spectrometry 2021-09, Vol.50 (5), p.436-453
• Main Authors: Bayazit, Murat, Işık, İskender, Kozbe, Gülriz, Güngör, Akarcan, İssi, Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Basalt; Bronze Age; Chemical composition; Clay minerals; Geological structures; Oxidation; Pottery; Raw materials; Valleys; Vitrification
• ISSN: 0049-8246; 1097-4539
• DOI: 10.1002/xrs.3222

This study focuses on the archaeometry characterization of representative Dark Rimmed Orange Bowl wares from different sites of the upper Tigris Valley and dated to the Bronze Age. The chemical composition of the potsherds divided the sample set into three main groups which suggested different raw material sources. The mineral content and rock type of the potteries respectively indicated that the raw materials were derived from the calcareous clay deposits and they were soil or alluvia formed mostly by weathering in volcanic (basalt) province. Considering the geological structure of the region, it was deduced that the raw materials have presumably been supplied from the region or at least from the near vicinity of the upper Tigris Valley. X‐ray diffraction results showed that the firing temperature range of the potsherds changes between 750 and 950°C, and approximately around 800–900°C in general. This assumption was also supported by the low vitrification degree observed on scanning electron microscopic images of the samples. The results also suggested that such type of pottery would have likely been produced using a sensitively adjusted kiln so as to control the firing atmosphere (reducing/oxidizing) and achieve the desired colorings, particularly the bichrome effect (i.e., black/gray on red).