Thermal characterization of archaeological pot sherds recently excavated in Nedunkur, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

The archaeological pottery sherds excavated recently in Nedunkur, Tamilnadu, were analysed using Thermogravimetric (TG) and Differential Thermal analysis (DTA) with an objective of identifying the mineralogical characteristics of the raw materials used for their production. Besides, the thermal reactions associated over the linear temperature ramp from room temperature to 1200 °C in an inert atmosphere were also realized by TG-DTA. The characterization studies were able to indicate the conditions of fring process adopted and fring temperature attained by the artisans at the time of manufacture.