Alterations and Contaminations in Ceramics Deposited in Underwater Environments: An Experimental Approach

Ancient ceramics recovered after a long burial period have probably undergone several alterations and contaminations, introducing chemical variability, affecting the ceramic’s natural variability. That is, mineralogical compositions of ceramic pastes their deposition will not be same as they originally were. Therefore, it is known that alteration contamination processes, discrimination some elements, should considered when studying to avoid incorrect interpretations about provenance, technology use artefact, well its proper preservation. In present work, authors performed an experimental approach in order study contaminations occurred 60 cylinders buried two different underwater environments. Once pieces were taken out from water environments, characterized by multi-analytical approach. For this purpose, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive (SEM–EDS) Raman spectroscopy used. Newly formed minerals forms been identified, with crystallization grades. Some examples are needles, flakes, sponges short prisms composed elements such Ca, F, S O.