Archaeometric analysis of Islamic pottery from Pollentia, Mallorca using XRF, XRD, SEM- EDX and OM thin section analysis

A sample-set of twenty-one Type 3-A[1]water jar pottery fragments excavated from the northern peninsula of Pollentia, Mallorca, BalearicIslandswere chemically and compositionally evaluated using archaeometric techniques.Theapplications and principle working parameters of artefactualanalytical techniques have been investigated in this dissertation, payingparticular attention to XRF, XRDandSEM as analytical tools in archaeometry. The study has provided strong evidence for the requirement of three compositionally similarchemicalgroups[2][3]for the sample-set (with two sub groups and an outlier), as wellas theidentification of the evolution of crystalline mineral phases and vitrification intensities,in order to estimate equivalent firing temperatures (EFTs)[4][5][6], ranging from < 800⁰C-850⁰Ctobetween 900⁰C-1000⁰C. Further research may be done in order to better evaluate the provenance and EFTsof the calcareous-based artefacts, and associate the consumption site to the production site kiln.This thesis is a continuation from a future co-published dissertationentitled “Caractérisation archéométrique de pichets d'eau du période musulmane dans laville dePollentia(Alcúdia, Majorque, Îles Baléares)”by the author and members within theERAAUBresearch group at the Universitat de Barcelona.All the scientific equipment described in this dissertation in order to undergo archaeometric analysis were used in collaboration with the Centres Científics i Tecnològicsat Edifici Prevosti, Facultat de Biologia, a faculty of Universitat de BarcelonaOutgoin