Thin section petrography, geochemistry, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction are key scientific methods used to investigate the raw materials, origins and production technology of archaeological pottery, ceramic building materials, ancient refractories and plaster. Using over 400 colour figures of a diverse range of artefact types and archaeological periods from 50 countries worldwide, this book outlines the mineralogical, chemical and microstructural composition of ancient ceramics and provides comprehensive guidelines for their scientific study within archaeology. The core of the book is dedicated to the versatile approach of ceramic petrography. This is complimented by a detailed account of the principles of bulk instrumental geochemistry, as well as the SEM microanalysis and XRD characterisation of ceramics. The book is intended as a reference manual for research as well as a course text for specialist training on scientific ceramic analysis.
Reviews

'Quinn must be congratulated for providing the reader with a detailed account of how to take ancient and modern ceramic studies to a new and exciting level of research.' - George Nash (2022): Current Archaeology (issue 393)

'Quinn's magnum opus, published in late July 2022, is certainly the most recent and up-to-date textbook for the study of archaeological ceramics. It is valuable both as a textbook for students and as a handbook for senior scholars, keeping up with the fast changes that have occurred in the study of ancient pottery by thin section petrography.' - Charles C. Kolb (2023): The SAS Bulletin Online

Book Information
ISBN 9781803272702
Author Patrick Sean Quinn
Format Paperback
Page Count 466
Imprint Archaeopress Archaeology
Publisher Archaeopress
Weight(grams) 1177g