Applications of FTIR and 57Fe Mössbauer Techniques in Studies of Recently Excavated Indian Archaeological Pottery |
| S. Dhanapandian, C. Manoharan and P. Sutharsan
Department of Physics, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar-608 002, Tamilnadu, India |
| Received: February 18, 2011; Revised version: April 27, 2011; In final form: June 18, 2011 |
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| The Fourier transform infrared absorption spectra and 57Fe Mössbauer spectra have been recorded at room temperature for the recently excavated archaeological pottery sherds. FTIR spectroscopy is used to estimate the lower limit of firing temperature and firing nature of the pottery sherds, and it is confirmed by the results of the Mössbauer technique results. The results show that the 57Fe Mössbauer and FTIR spectra of few pottery sherds of Perumalpattu and Theriruveli are nearly identical, indicating that they may belong to the same origin. 57Fe Mössbauer spectra of black coloured sherds show the presence of Fe2+ ions which confirm the relation between the black colour in pottery and the existence of non-magnetic FeO compound, resulting from the reducing atmospheric condition during firing. FTIR results of reddish pot sherds show the presence of significant amount of Fe2O3/α-Fe2O3, which confirms again the relationship between the state and form of iron present in the pottery and its colour. |
| DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.121.592 PACS numbers: 33.20.Ea, 82.80.Ej, 07.20.Mc, 75.50.Ww |