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East Cretan Middle Minoan and Late Minoan I Dark Slips: Pixe Characterization Studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Charles P. Swann ,
Philip P. Betancourt  and
Cheryl R. Floyd
Charles P. Swann
Affiliation:
Bartol Research Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
Philip P. Betancourt
Affiliation:
Dept. of Art History, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
Cheryl R. Floyd
Affiliation:
Dept. of Art History, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
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Abstract

The dark-firing slips used for Minoan pottery have never been adequately characterized, and opinion has been divided on whether or not the slips are made from the same material as the fabrics. A program of analysis by PIXE was carried out at the Bartol Research Institute, University of Delaware, on MM and LM I sherds from east Crete, analyzing both the slips and the fabrics. The results indicate several compositional variations including a consistently higher percentage of K in the slips. A consistently high percentage of Ca is in the fabrics, but the concentration of Ca in the slips is variable. Probably different materials were used for fabrics and slips, and although the clay source may have changed between Middle Minoan and Late Minoan I, the materials remained generally constant in LM I in spite of a change to a different firing technology resulting in browner slips.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 352: Symposium – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology IV , 1995 , 673
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

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References

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