Petrographic study of the Bronze Age ceramics from Shahr-I Sokhta in east of Iran

The Shahr-i Sokhta (The Burnt City) is a Bronze Age archaeological site in east of Iran with several stages of settlements. A large number of pottery shred and excavated ceramics of this site shows its importance during fourth to second millennium BC. Based on the color of body-paste of found ceramics in Shahr-i Sokhta, they are classified into three “Red”, “Grey” and “Buff” ware groups. An analysis of the microstructure and chemical composition of these three groups is the main purpose of this study. To do so, nine samples (three for each group) were subjected to observation by optical microscope and then their thin sections were analyzed by PLM, micro XRF and SEM-EDX to investigate any differences of raw materials from which these ceramics were produced. The results demonstrated that both Red and Grey ware ceramics have similar compositions with high amount of Fe and difference of their color is most probably because of different kiln atmosphere in which the potteries were produced. On the other hand, the high percentage of Ca in the Buff ware samples showed this type of ceramics are made with another type of raw material; different source or prepared deliberately. Moreover, PLM and SEM studies illustrated there wasn’t any cover layer on these ceramics, and, a paste with fine particles created all the bodies. Also, the percentage of organic additions shamot in the body of Grey and Buff samples are low while in the Red ware ceramics it is totally absent.