Characterization of ceramic from the Early Bronze Age Xinzhai site, Henan Province, China, by using a multi-analytical approach

This study investigates ceramic production at the Early Bronze Age (ca. 2050-1640 BCE) site of Xinzhai, in central China. The excavation of this settlement produced rich and well-contextualized archaeological material that depicts the Longshan-Erlitou Culture's development stage. A total of sixty ceramic samples, representative of the various pottery categories and chronological horizons evidenced at this site, and five geological samples gathered around the Xinzhai site were chosen to conduct this analysis. By combining chemical compositional analysis (XRF), spectroscopy analysis (FTIR), and mineral identification (XRD), we were able to define the geochemical signature and mineral characteristics of these ceramics. Ceramic bodies' chemical and mineral composition indicate that raw materials were carefully selected. The firing temperatures of ceramics are between 750 and 950 degrees C.