Composition, microstructure and RHX dating of romanesque relief ceramic tiles

Abstract

Fragments of Romanesque relief terracotta tiles were found during archaeological research in Prague, the Czech Republic. The finding represents part of the floor in an Early Romanesque rotunda. The aim of this work was to evaluate the microstructure and ageing process and to consider the possibility of the preparation of these tiles by using local raw materials. Thermal analysis was used to characterise the fine fractions of samples. The chemical and mineralogical composition of the tiles and surface decoration were compared and discussed. The application of the rehydroxylation (RHX) dating method was studied. It was proven that the differences in the ceramic body phase composition of the tiles were caused by variable firing temperatures. The results indicate that the tiles were imported and not produced from local raw materials.