Raw Materials in Sa Huynh Ceramic Production According to Petrographic Analyses

Tóm tắt

: In regard to the Sa Huynh culture (500 BP - 200 AD), ceramic artefacts are abundant and make up an important source of materials. Aiming at clarifying the ceramic-making techniques during the period, it is necessary to do research on where raw materials came from and how the local potters dealt with raw materials. The Stoltman’s technique for the petrographic analysis of thin sections has been used to analyse the ceramic artefacts of the Sa Huynh culture. Based on the findings of the analyses, some preliminary conclusions have been made as follows: (1) Regarding the sources of clay, the clay used to make the Sa Huynh ceramics were obtained from three sources, including the river sediment, the river-marine sediment, and the marine sediment; (2) Regarding the mixture of raw materials, all Sa Huynh ceramic artefacts were coarsely made of clay mixed with some inclusions (called tempers) such as sand, ground rock pieces, and mollusc shells;

The proportions of the inclusions vary from area to area and correspond with the functions of the ceramic products; and, (4) As shown by the analyses, the components of the clay mixture used to make cooking utensils are often different from those of the clay mixture used to make non-cooking objects.