Investigating ancient technology and ceramic composition at Al‐Khidr site (Failaka Island, Kuwait): Geochemical analyses of Bronze Age pottery by pXRF and thin‐section petrographic analyses. (12th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ashkanani, Hasan J.; Kovár, Branislav
• Other Names: Bonnéric Julie guestEditor.; Crassard Rémy guestEditor.; Al‐Duwaish Sultan guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Arabian archaeology and epigraphy. Volume 32:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 8
• Page End: 20
• Publication Date: 2021-07-12
• Subjects: Kuwait -- pXRF -- Dilmun -- Failaka -- Arabian Gulf -- pottery; Arabian Peninsula -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; Inscriptions -- Arabian Peninsula -- Periodicals; 953
• DOI: 10.1111/aae.12184
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-7196

Abstract

Abstract: Pottery assemblages from the site of Al‐Khidr on Failaka Island, Kuwait, were analysed in order to reconstruct the chemical composition of Bronze Age wares and to build a mineralogical database of Bronze Age pottery dated from Failaka Periods 1–3B (2000–1650 BCE). A total of 145 ceramic sherds from Al‐Khidr, as well as reference groups, were analysed by non‐destructive portable X‐ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry. Preliminarily petrographic thin‐section analysis was applied to four samples to reconstruct possible clay paste recipes and to identify raw materials. The results indicate that geochemical analyses can successfully distinguish subgroups within a typological category of ceramic assemblages. The results identified two subgroups within the Al‐Khidr typological category: the Dilmun Barbar tradition and the Mesopotamian tradition. Future comparative compositional studies can be conducted to explore other aspects of craft specialisation, such as ceramic technological choices and possibly the influence of sociopolitical units.