Mineralogical Characterization and Firing Technology of Ancient Ceramics through XRD: A Case Study from Jalandhar District, Punjab (India)

Ceramic artefacts constitute one of the most reliable material indicators for reconstructing technologicaltraditions, cultural behaviour, and patterns of resource utilisation in ancient societies. The present study undertakesa mineralogical and phase-based characterisation of pottery samples recovered from four recently exploredarchaeological sites in the Jalandhar Doab region of Punjab, namely Kathpalon, Goal Pind, Hardo Pharla, andSinghpur. A total of forty representative samples, spanning the Late Harappan to Early Medieval periods (c.۲۰۰۰ BCE–۱۲۰۰ CE), were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to identify crystalline mineral phases and toinfer firing conditions and clay provenance.The results indicate that the ceramics were predominantly fired underlow- to moderate-temperature regimes, ranging approximately between ۵۰۰ °C and ۹۰۰ °C, under both oxidisingand reducing atmospheric conditions. The persistence of minerals such as quartz and calcite, together with theoccurrence of dickite and phlogopite in certain samples, suggests variability in firing intensity and technologicalcontrol across different cultural phases. Although firing temperatures appear broadly consistent through time,variations in mineralogical assemblages point to changes in clay source procurement, reflecting evolving pottingtraditions and experimentation by craftspeople in the region.This study highlights the effectiveness of XRD-basedmineralogical analysis in reconstructing ancient ceramic technology, while recognising that further microstructuralinvestigations (e.g. SEM analysis) would enhance understanding of amorphous phases and vitrification processes.

کلیدواژه ها:

XRD analysis ، mineralogical phases ، Ceramic technology ، firing temperature ، Jalandhar Doab