Identification of vessel use and explanation of change in production techniques from the Old to the Middle Kingdom: Organic residue analysis, fabric and thermal characterization of pot sherds from Qubbet el‐Hawa, Aswan, Egypt. (24th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khalifa, E.; Elrahim, E. Abd
• Is Part Of: Archaeometry. Volume 62:Number 6(2020)
• Page Start: 1115
• Page End: 1129
• Publication Date: 2020-08-24
• Subjects: Qubbet El‐Hawa -- Old and Middle Kingdoms of Egypt -- pottery analysis -- GC‐MS -- DTA -- SEM‐EDX -- XRD; Archaeometry -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Expertising -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1111/arcm.12592
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-813X

Abstract

Abstract : For the first time, residue‐analysis results of a red‐rim bowl discovered at Qubbet el‐Hawa in Aswan, Egypt, are discussed alongside the thermal characterization of unpublished pottery bowls of the Old and Middle Kingdoms from the same site. Scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (SEM‐EDX) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were performed to provide fabric description of the bowls. The results show the presence of 4‐heptenoic and 4‐decenoic acids. The Old Kingdom bowl showed a firing temperature range of 800–850°C, while the Middle Kingdom example was fired to higher temperatures. This is a suggested explanation of the decrease in the use of red coating as a surface treatment after the Old Kingdom.