Compositional Analysis of Pottery from Kota Cina, North Sumatra: Implications for Regional Trade during the Twelfth to Fourteenth Centuries A.D.

摘要

Previous research on the mineral composition of Southeast Asian earthenware pottery suggested that different production locales might be discriminated on the basis of trace elements. Additional tests have now been conducted on a large number of samples. The results confirm those of the earlier research and provide additional evidence on trade in locally made pottery in Southeast Asia during the ninth to fourteenth centuries A.D. We can now state that a particular form of Fine Paste ware was shipped from east Java to north Sumatra during this period. In addition, with this larger sample it was possible to statistically define the divisions between various classes of pottery from north Sumatra. KEYWORDS: Ceramic compositional analysis, Southeast Asian prehistory, prehistoric pottery production and trade.