To be or not to be local

A provenance study of archaeological ceramics from Shahr-i Sokhta, eastern Iran

Bibliographic Data

ID5407724
AuthorsNegar Eftekhari (0000-0002-0879-6870, University of Ferrara, corresponding author), Amir-Hossein Karimy (0000-0003-0456-6354), Parviz Holakooei (0000-0002-7613-6081, Isfahan University of Art), Elena Marrocchino (0000-0001-7320-0327, University of Ferrara), Carmela Vaccaro (0000-0002-4954-8697, University of Ferrara)
Year2021
Volume13
Issue4
Publication date2021-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchaeological and Anthropological Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1866-9557 • E-ISSN: 1866-9565
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s12520-021-01307-2
OpenAlexW3139828234
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited18

Findings from the archaeological site of Shahr-i Sokhta in eastern Iran include a wide range of undecorated, monochrome, and polychrome ceramics with gray, red, and buff-colored bodies that date back to a period spanning from 3200 to 1800 B.C.E. Given the large number and variety of ceramics unearthed from Shahr-i Sokhta, the provenance of these wares has remained a subject of controversy. Based on compositional data obtained from quantitative wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectroscopy studies and petrographic observations, findings from this study provide information that can be used to determine whether the ceramics from Shahr-i Sokhta were manufactured locally or were imported from elsewhere. We show here that the chemical components of a large group of ceramics with gray, red, and buff-colored bodies are similar to those found in local clay sources and kiln wasters, suggesting local production of these wares. However, one group of red and gray-colored wares demonstrated entirely different chemistry, suggesting a different origin. In support of the quantitative WDXRF data, petrofabric analysis of the first group of buff, gray, and red wares revealed poorly sorted basaltic clasts similar to those found randomly distributed in the matrix of local clays. By contrast, the non-local gray and red wares exhibited fine-grained clay bodies with sorted distribution of fine-grained quartz within the clay matrix

Archaeology · Art · Colored · Geochemistry · Geography · Mineralogy · Petrography · Polychrome · Provenance · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Building materials and conservation · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis · Materials Science · Geology

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