Dataset on elemental concentration and group identification of ancient potteries from Tamil Nadu, India.

The dataset contains concentration of major and trace elements of ancient potteries from Tamilnadu and grouping different potteries from the statistical techniques of factor and cluster analysis (Figs. 2, 3 and 4). The major and trace elemental concentration data generated using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique (EDXRF) and factor and cluster analysis data obtained using STATISTICA (10.0 version) software. The concentration of major and trace elements determines the type of clay minerals (Calcareous/Non-Calcareous and either low or high refractory) and firing atmosphere adopted by the artisans at the time of manufacture. The statistical tool examined graphically the grouping pattern of the samples in terms of chemical composition and extract information about their provenance. The compilation of this data provides a resource for the wider research community in archeology.

Application of thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) technique to study the ancient potteries from Vellore dist, Tamilnadu, India.

The characterization of archeological ceramic and pottery can be studied for the determination of firing temperature and the presence of raw materials by thermal analysis. Clay minerals are the main material for the production of ceramic and pottery and show some characteristic reactions such as dehydration, dehydroxylation and transformation. This is key point of criteria for the elucidation of firing temperature and raw material analysis. In the present work, DTA-TG, XRD and EDXRF technique are applied on representative potsherds from Vellore dist., Tamilnadu, India to derive the information about the production technology, raw materials and firing temperature. From the analysis, all the samples were considered to be fired from 800°C to 900°C and organic material might be added intestinally as a binder in the preparation of pottery.

The analytical investigations of ancient pottery from Kaveripakkam, Vellore dist, Tamilnadu by spectroscopic techniques.

Analytical investigations using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (EDXRF) were carried out on ancient pottery fragments from Kaveripakkam, in order to outline manufacturing skills, technology information, firing condition and temperature of potteries. The whole set of data showed the firing temperature in the range of 800-900°C. The analytical characterization of the potsherds, by different complimentary techniques has allowed to identifying the raw materials and technology applied by the ancient artisans.

Analytical characterization of recently excavated megalithic sarcophagi potsherds in Veeranam village, Tiruvannamalai dist., Tamilnadu, India.

Analytical characterization of megalithic sarcophagi potsherds from Veeranam, Tiruvannamalai dist., Tamilnadu has been performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Thermal analysis (TG-DTA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) and Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). The EDXRF data of the potsherds were processed using multivariate statistical methods. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis allow us to identify grouping and structure in the data. The analytical results achieved in this study allowed us to estimate the firing temperature and manufacturing techniques. The methodological approach was successfully applied to the mineralogical, chemical and thermal characterization of the potsherds.