MINERALOGICAL CHARACTERIZATIONS OF ANCIENT POTTERY SAMPLE FROM THE KEELADI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE, TAMIL NADU - INDIA

The aim of the present study is to find out the presence of minerals, raw materials used and the ceramic technology of the past in the selected pottery sample of the period 250BC from the important archeological site Keeladi of Sivagangai district, Tamil Nadu, India. Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques have been used for the analysis. Examination of pottery sample under FTIR and SEM is an excellent micro analytical technique used for the study of clay mineral configuration, fabric, texture, growth mechanisms and to estimate firing temperatures. The presence of quartz, feldspar, montmorillonite, kaolinite, mullite in the selected pottery samples has been identified. Firing the pottery samples in the reducing atmosphere technique is also brought out.