Mineralogical Characterization and Firing Technology of Ancient Ceramics through XRD: A Case Study from Jalandhar District, Punjab (India)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of History and Archaeology Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, India.

2 Department of Geology School of Environment and Earth Sciences Central University of Punjab, Punjab, India.

10.22111/ijas.2026.53108.1368

Abstract

Ceramic artefacts constitute one of the most reliable material indicators for reconstructing technological
traditions, cultural behaviour, and patterns of resource utilisation in ancient societies. The present study undertakes
a mineralogical and phase-based characterisation of pottery samples recovered from four recently explored
archaeological sites in the Jalandhar Doab region of Punjab, namely Kathpalon, Goal Pind, Hardo Pharla, and
Singhpur. A total of forty representative samples, spanning the Late Harappan to Early Medieval periods (c.
2000 BCE–1200 CE), were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to identify crystalline mineral phases and to
infer firing conditions and clay provenance.The results indicate that the ceramics were predominantly fired under
low- to moderate-temperature regimes, ranging approximately between 500 °C and 900 °C, under both oxidising
and reducing atmospheric conditions. The persistence of minerals such as quartz and calcite, together with the
occurrence of dickite and phlogopite in certain samples, suggests variability in firing intensity and technological
control across different cultural phases. Although firing temperatures appear broadly consistent through time,
variations in mineralogical assemblages point to changes in clay source procurement, reflecting evolving potting
traditions and experimentation by craftspeople in the region.This study highlights the effectiveness of XRD-based
mineralogical analysis in reconstructing ancient ceramic technology, while recognising that further microstructural
investigations (e.g. SEM analysis) would enhance understanding of amorphous phases and vitrification processes.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies
Volume 16, Issue 1
2026
Pages 5-16

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