Petrographic and geochemical analysis on the provenance of the Middle Bronze and Late Bronze/Early Iron Age ceramics from Didi Gora and Udabno I, Eastern Georgia

• Published in: Journal of archaeological science Vol. 36; no. 10; pp. 2463 - 2474
• Main Authors: Kibaroğlu, Mustafa, Satır, Muharrem, Kastl, Gabriele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Ancient ceramics; Asia; Central Asia; Ceramic petrography; Ceramics; Eastern Georgia; Excavation and methods; Laboratory methods; Metal Ages; Methodology and general studies; Physical and chemical analysis; Prehistory and protohistory; Provenance study; Typology, technology and attribute analysis; X-ray fluorescence analysis; Iron Age; Final Bronze Age; Hallstatt; Georgia (CIE); Europe; X-ray fluorescence analysis; Ceramic petrography; Provenance study; Eastern Georgia; Ancient ceramics; Petrography; Analysis; X ray fluorescence; Ceramics; Source
• ISSN: 0305-4403; 1095-9238
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2009.07.005

We report thin section petrographic and geochemical analysis of a total of 20 Middle Bronze, Late Bronze/Early Iron Age ceramics excavated from Didi Gora and Udabno I located in the Eastern part of the Republic of Georgia and 31 clay samples from eight different regions in the surrounding areas of the sites. The major and trace element compositions of the ceramics and clays were determined using a wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique. The results indicate that the ceramics were manufactured from local clays in Eastern Georgia, mainly from two local clays without any preference of one of the sources during the Middle Bronze, Late Bronze/Early Iron Age.