Spectroscopic characterization of recently excavated archaeological potsherds from Tamilnadu, India with multi-analytical approach

Abstract

A combined analytical study of potsherds excavated from different archaeological sites of Tamilnadu (Kavalapatti, Nattapuraki and Thamaraikulam villages), India are analyzed by spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). FTIR and XRD techniques have been attempted to characterize the mineralogical composition, firing temperature and firing conditions of the archaeological potsherds. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is the complementary study to estimate the firing temperature from characteristic thermal reactions in potsherds under controlled firing in inert gas atmosphere. Further, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped and coupled with an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) to analyze internal morphology and chemical composition of the potsherds was used. From the results of the above techniques, the firing temperatures of potsherds were found to be greater than 650°C.

Keywords: Archaeological potsherds; FT-IR; Firing temperature; SEM–EDS; TG-DTA; XRD.