Application of thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) technique to study the ancient potteries from Vellore dist, Tamilnadu, India

• Results indicate potsherds were produced from clay deposits which are non-calcareous.
• The estimated firing temperatures of potsherds were between 800 and 900 °C.
• The combustion of organic material contained in the clay used to make the potsherds.

The characterization of archeological ceramic and pottery can be studied for the determination of firing temperature and the presence of raw materials by thermal analysis. Clay minerals are the main material for the production of ceramic and pottery and show some characteristic reactions such as dehydration, dehydroxylation and transformation. This is key point of criteria for the elucidation of firing temperature and raw material analysis. In the present work, DTA–TG, XRD and EDXRF technique are applied on representative potsherds from Vellore dist., Tamilnadu, India to derive the information about the production technology, raw materials and firing temperature. From the analysis, all the samples were considered to be fired from 800 °C to 900 °C and organic material might be added intestinally as a binder in the preparation of pottery.

Figure shows the typical photo of the samples of Vellore, Tamilnadu, India.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide