Fractographical Characteristic of Admixtures in Medieval Pottery

摘要

The principal aim of the investigations described in the paper was to characterize the structure of fragments of ceramic vessels found in the region of Wyszogrod, Poland, and dated from 7th to 9th century. The ceramic fragments were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The material was subjected to qualitative and quantitative analyses. The qualitative description included the identification of the kind of admixtures, determination of their distribution and description of the structure of the ceramic matrix. This was done using fractographic examinations of vessel fractures which permitted identifying the shape, color, and admixture distribution, and also enabled us to observe the structure of the ceramic matrix in particular cracks and delaminations. The quantitative analysis consisted of the measurements of the size of the admixtures. Observations combined with a point analysis of the chemical composition performed in a scanning electron microscope supplemented the examinations of the kind and structure of the admixtures. The admixtures were characterized using the methods of quantitative description.