Characterization of the early Byzantine pottery from Caričin Grad (South Serbia) in terms of composition and firing temperature

Abstract Mineralogical and chemical composition as well as production methods of the pottery from Caricin Grad, a significant early Byzantine urban complex and production centre of the northern Illyricum region, were determined by multi-analytical investigations that comprised optical analysis and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM–EDS), micro-Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) methods. The obtained data indicate that all investigated pottery samples were made of similar raw material that, most likely, originated from the local geological environment. Estimated firing temperatures for the cooking pots vary between 600 °C and 900 °C, while for the glazed table and storage vessels they are more uniform, about 900 °C. The transparent high lead glaze was obtained by direct application of lead oxide to the ceramic surface.