DARK AND SHINY: THE DISCOVERY OF CHROMITE IN BRONZE AGE FAIENCE*

  1. N. C. F. GROOT1,
  2. J. DIK1,*,
  3. G. VAN DER KOOIJ2,
  4. P. F. A. ALKEMADE3,
  5. V. G. M. SIVEL3,
  6. F. D. TICHELAAR3

Article first published online: 27 APR 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4754.2006.00253.x

Issue

Archaeometry

Archaeometry

Volume 48, Issue 2, pages 229–236, May 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

GROOT, N. C. F., DIK, J., VAN DER KOOIJ, G., ALKEMADE, P. F. A., SIVEL, V. G. M. and TICHELAAR, F. D. (2006), DARK AND SHINY: THE DISCOVERY OF CHROMITE IN BRONZE AGE FAIENCE*. Archaeometry, 48: 229–236. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4754.2006.00253.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Delft University of Technology, Materials Science and Engineering, Rotterdamseweg 137, 2628 AL Delft, The Netherlands

  2. 2

    Leiden University, Faculty of Archaeology, Reuvensplaats 3, 2311 BE Leiden, The Netherlands

  3. 3

    Delft University of Technology, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands

* †Corresponding author: tel. +31 (0) 15-2789571; e-mail j.dik@tudelft.nl

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 APR 2006
  2. Article first published online: 27 APR 2006
  3. *Received 29 March 2005; accepted 15 September 2005.

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Keywords:

  • LATE BRONZE AGE;
  • NEAR EAST FAIENCE;
  • GLAZE;
  • CHROMITE;
  • PIGMENTATION;
  • TEM;
  • SEM;
  • XRD

The Late Bronze Age (1550–1200 bc) in the Near East was a period of cultural development, international trade and technological innovation, notably in metallurgy and silicate technology. As a spin-off of the new glass technology, new colorants were also applied to faience glazes presumably to increase their aesthetic value. Here, we report on the presence of chromite minerals in the glaze of a faience vessel from Deir ‘Alla, Jordan, 1200 years earlier than reported so far. Importantly, chromite was not only used as a greyish pigment, but also as a nucleating agent for spherulitic crystallization of augite in the amorphous glaze. These synthetic augite formations give a unique, sparkly appearance to the faience vessel, apparently imitating a metallic look. The making of such an intricate glaze and its contemporary significance reflect not only the high level but also the appreciation of innovation in that region at that time.

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