Development of quartz cathodoluminescence for the geological grouping of archaeological ceramics: firing effects and data analysis

Cathodoluminescence (CL) spectrometry reveals genetic crystallographic and chemical characteristics of quartz grains specific to the thermodynamic conditions in which they crystallised and their mineralisation history. These genetic characteristics have been used successfully to determine the provenance of sediments. Geological sediments are the raw material for archaeological ceramics which means quartz CL has a potential application in ceramic provenance studies, particularly for fine wares and fabrics in which quartz is the only identifiable inclusion.This paper demonstrates the viability of quartz CL for ceramic studies (i) by determining that the effect of thermal radiation (heat) does not alter the genetic defect structure of quartz (up to 1100 °C) and (ii) using genetic quartz types to differentiate geological groups in an experimental ceramic assemblage which could not be identified using traditional methods (INAA and ceramic petrography).

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► CL spectra of quartz grains reveal genetic indicators used for sediment provenance.
► These indicators can be detected after heating to 600–1100 °C.
► Quartz CL spectra separate experimental ceramic assemblage into geological groups.
► Able to differentiate ceramic groups using quartz of the same broad genetic type.