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Thermal analysis and multi-analytical comparison of samples of Neolithic ceramics from Dnepr–Dvina and Low Don regions

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Abstract

Two kinds of samples of Early and Late Neolithic ceramic sherds of pots from excavations of sites located in Dnepr–Dvina and Low Don region (Serteya II and Rakushechny Yar) were investigated for multi-analytical comparison. The methods include thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and method of standard contact porosimetry. The pottery manufactured in Serteya II and Rakushechny Yar has different clay sources, but close mineral composition. Inner sides of sherds are less thermally durable as a result of the contact with cooking meal or boiling water in ancient times: They lose more mass during thermogravimetric measurements. At the same time, the minerals in outer sides of the samples are partly destroyed because of contact with fire in the past. According to differential scanning calorimetry curves, there are thermal effects above 1000 °C in all sherds due to mullite formation. There are organic C–F bonds and sharp endothermic peaks at 600–750 °C in samples from Serteya II site. In addition to elevated level of nitrogen and phosphorus and carbon black layer on the inner side, it allows to propose that the pot from Serteya II was used for cooking. The sherds from both sites have close overall porosity, but in case of Serteya II size of mesopore is more isotropic.

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Acknowledgements

Research was conducted using resources provided by the Centre of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Centre of Physical methods of Surface Investigation, and the Centre for X-ray Diffraction Studies of Research Park of Saint Petersburg State University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya nab, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034

    Irina A. Zvereva, Viktor M. Kuznetsov & Yuriy M. Zhukov

  2. The State Hermitage Museum, 34 Dvortsovaya nab, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 190000

    Andrey N. Mazurkevich & Ekaterina V. Dolbunova

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  1. Irina A. Zvereva
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  2. Viktor M. Kuznetsov
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Correspondence to Irina A. Zvereva.

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Zvereva, I.A., Kuznetsov, V.M., Zhukov, Y.M. et al. Thermal analysis and multi-analytical comparison of samples of Neolithic ceramics from Dnepr–Dvina and Low Don regions. J Therm Anal Calorim 138, 1879–1886 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-019-08621-x

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