Investigation of the Roman period pottery production technology from the Seyitömer Mound (Kütahya/Turkey)

The pottery sherds of the Roman period which is the subject of the paper were found at the rescue excavation held in 1989 on site of Seyitömer Mound (Kütahya/Turkey). This study represents archaeometrical analyses of 30 pottery sherds found in the Seyitömer Mound. The important clues for the detection of production and distribution areas of the Roman period sherds were attained in the archaeometrical studies carried out in recent years. A wide variety of characterization techniques were performed. Wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) was performed for chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was performed for mineralogical and phase analysis of the pottery sherds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microanalysis technique (EDX) were performed for microstructural and microchemical analysis. Thermogravimetric– differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) was employed for the estimation of firing temperature. Raw materials used for the production, firing temperatures and conditions for the pottery sherds were discussed in the study. From the results obtained, ceramic bodies have been produced from clay deposits rich in iron, containing illitic type minerals and carbonated minerals such as calcite and dolomite. Three groups were concluded as starting raw materials which are rich in calcite, magnesium and siliceous minerals. Firing temperatures of the potsherds change from 600°C to 1100°C