This work applies established analytical techniques of physical sciences to Irish brick in order to gather evidence of ceramic technologies, provenance and sources of raw materials. Petrographic microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive Xray diffraction attachment were used to study the brick of Rathfarham Castle, Dublin, built c.1618, where cla...

Thin-section petrography is a crucial tool for the study of archaeological ceramics, and in recent years, image analysis has emerged as a powerful quantitative enhancement of that tool. Exploratory applications of image analysis to archaeological ceramic thin sections, and related work by sedimentary geologists, have indicated its usefulness to the field. In this paper, we first present the res...

Abstract This study employs ceramic petrography to establish if the existing typology-based divisions for so-called Middle Nubian cultures can be related variations in technologies during mid-second millennium BC (c. 1800–1550 BC). Raw materials, paste recipes, and firing technology are analyzed identify similarities differences between C-Group, Pan-Grave, Kerma traditions. Three distinct fabri...