DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3478415.

Samples of the ceramic materials from the Entrada do Caminho da Caiçara archaeological site, located in the rural area of the municipality of Piripiri, Piaui, Brazil, were examined under stereomicroscope and analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, CHN elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy for information about different patterns in firing. The Mössbauer spectra, obtained in 298 K and 30 K, are dominated by Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺ and Fe^2.5+ doublets. In some cases, a fraction of the ferruginous species of these materials order magnetically at 298 K, showing a sextet with magnetic hyperfine field attributed to hematite (αFe₂O₃). However, some samples only order magnetically at low temperature, 30 K. Quartz, anatase, kaolinite and feldspar were also identified. The occurrence of kaolinite in two samples indicates firing at a temperature lower than 500 °C and general data indicate that the other pieces must have been fired at 550 to 950 °C. The Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ proportions in these materials indicate a dynamic atmosphere in the firing environment, suggesting the use of open air firing.

Archaeological ceramic; firing environment; firing temperature; Mössbauer spectroscopy; archaeometry.

Cavalcante, L. C. D., J. W. L. Sousa, H. K. S. B. Silva. 2019. Análise químico-mineralógica e parâmetros de queima de cerâmicas do sítio arqueológico Entrada do Caminho da Caiçara, Brasil. Arqueología Iberoamericana 43: 20-34.

PURL: http://purl.org/aia/4303. ARK: http://n2t.net/ark:/49934/191.

Publication date: July 26, 2019.