Archaeometric analysis of pottery sherds from Barveh Tepe: Insights into Early Bronze Age pottery‐making techniques and firing temperatures

Abstract

Barveh Tepe, an archaeological site from the Early Bronze Age in the Zagros Mountains of Iran, was the focus of an archaeometric analysis in this study. The aim was to evaluate the firing temperature of excavated pottery sherds from Barveh Tepe and to gain insights into the pottery-making techniques employed. A range of analytical methods, including optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), was utilized to characterize the pottery sherds. The results revealed the utilization of two primary types of raw clays: calcite-rich (calcareous) and calcite-poor (non-calcareous). The presence of calcite in calcareous pottery samples was confirmed, with the calcareous pottery showing a low CO3−2 vibrational band, indicating a low firing temperature. Through the integration of SEM images, FTIR spectra, TGA curve and XRD pattern results, the estimated firing temperature range for Barveh Tepe pottery was determined to be between 600 and 1100°C. These findings provide new insights into the pottery-making practices of the Early Bronze Age and shed light on the technological advancements of the period.