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Characteristics of late Neolithic pottery of the Zau culture: analysis of pottery samples from Iernut-Site II (Mures County, Romania)

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Abstract

The analysed samples come from the archaeological rescue digs undertaken on the Iernut-Chețani segment from the Transilvania Highway (Sector 2A Ogra-Câmpia Turzii). The samples were taken from 7 pottery sherds, as well as clay taken from within the dig site. The 7 sherds, dated to the Neolithic period, are different and consist of 4 fine pottery sherds, 1 semifine pottery sherd and 2 coarse. Complementary techniques were used in the analysis, namely TG/HF, FTIR, SEM, EDX and XRD. The purpose of the analysis was to determine similarities between the composition of the pottery sherds, as well as similarities between the pottery composition and the soil samples, in order to determine whether the raw materials used had a local origin. Furthermore, the techniques employed were selected to also help identify the pottery technology (estimating the firing temperatures).

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Acknowledgements

We would also like to offer our gratitude to M. Răchită, Ph.D. student at Babes-Bolyay University from Cluj-Napoca, for providing the analysed samples, as well as to A. Ursuțiu, Ph.D., from the Archaeology and Art History Institute of Cluj-Napoca, who led the collective that carried out the archaeological excavations at Iernut-Site II, during which the sherds were discovered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Thermal Analysis in Environmental Problems, West University of Timisoara, Pestalozzi Street 16, Timisoara, Romania

    Dan Vlase, Titus Vlase, Alexandra-Gabriela Ursuţ & Gabriela Vlase

  2. Department of Scientific Research and Academic Creation, West University of Timisoara, Parvan Bvd. 4, Timisoara, Romania

    Dan Vlase

  3. Babeș-Bolyai University-History, Civilization, Culture Doctoral School, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Dan Vlase

  4. Faculty of Physics, West University of Timisoara, V. Parvan Ave., No. 4, Timisoara, Romania

    Mădălin Bunoiu

  5. National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, P Andronescu St 1, 300224, Timisoara, Romania

    Paula Sfîrloagă

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  1. Dan Vlase
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  2. Titus Vlase
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  3. Mădălin Bunoiu
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  4. Paula Sfîrloagă
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  5. Alexandra-Gabriela Ursuţ
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  6. Gabriela Vlase
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Correspondence to Paula Sfîrloagă or Gabriela Vlase.

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Vlase, D., Vlase, T., Bunoiu, M. et al. Characteristics of late Neolithic pottery of the Zau culture: analysis of pottery samples from Iernut-Site II (Mures County, Romania). J Therm Anal Calorim 147, 5351–5363 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-022-11261-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-022-11261-3

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