THE CHARACTERIZATION OF MEDIEVAL CERAMICS EXCAVATED FROM THE EĞIRDIR CARAVANSERAI (TURKEY)

Abstract

Thirteen potsherds from the Eğirdir Caravanserai (south-west of Turkey) were characterized by optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mineralogical and petrographic studies of medieval potsherds in there show a ceramic body composed of a microcrystalline to amorphous matrix with various clasts and voids. The thin section, XRD and SEM analyses of samples showed that potsherds consist of K-feldspar (orthoclase), plagioclase (albite and anorthite), pyroxene (diopside), melilite (gehlenite), mullite, wollastonite, mica (biotite and muscovite), chlorite, leucite, amphibole, quartz, calcite, iron minerals (hematite and magnetite) and trace amounts of sphene. The obtained results showed that calcareous materials including illitic-kaolinitic clays were used for pottery production and the potsherds were fired in the temperatures from 800 to 1150°C.

Keywords

• Gehlenite
• Anorthite
• Mullite
• Illitic-kaolinitic clays
• Cultural heritage