Journal of Research on Archaeometry
Year:2017 | Volume:3 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:6

Glass is one of the oldest materials which have been used in human history. Till nowadays, glass hasnot lost its attraction. The macroscopically character of this object make it usable for many differentapplications. Whether its transparency or its opacity, this object is the most fascinating material. Indeed, the history of glass making goes back to the 3th Millennium BC in Near East and Levant, butthe early supported documentation with regard to the fabrication of this material goes back to the 2thMillennium BC. The glass wires from Chogha Zanbil are the unique and most considerable objectsfrom Elamite period (2th Millennium BC). Chogha Zanbil glass wires are also known as the first evidencefor glass-making in the second millennium BC in Iran and are of particular importance due totheir material characteristics, manufacturing technique, their form and style. In this research, twopieces of glass wares belonging to the 2nd millennium BC from Chogha Zanbil, in the Abadan Museum, were subjected to chemical and structural investigations. The main question discussed in thispaper is to determine the chemical composition as well as crystalline phase constituents of these materials, technological features and determining the firing temperature of these glass objects. QPXRDmethod was used to identify the crystalline structure of these materials. The microstructure and textureof the objects were studied and analyzed using ESEM-EDX method. Firing temperature of thesewires was investigated by means of simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) method in order to estimatethe manufacturing temperature. Mineralogical chemical studies indicate that these objects are in facthigh-temperature ceramics, which have a glassy fabric. It occurs when the heating temperature passedthe transition state. Glass transition relates to the transition from the solid state to the liquid state (orthe reverse one). It is basically a kinetical phenomenon. It denotes to the so-called “ structural relaxation. ” If the structural relaxation has time enough to happen during the statement time, the materialbehaves as a liquid. If the structural relaxation cannot occur during experience time, then the materialbehaves as a rigid-or semi rigid-solid. The external and internal layer of glasses seems to be a crystallinepart with the effect of both sintering and partial smelting. The manufacturing temperature ofthese materials has reached about 1000-1100 º C, and it has led to the glazing effects of glass on theirsurface.

Although the pottery is found in a massive amount in archaeological discoveries, these materials are the most important materials for different orientations in studies on the ancient people. One aspects of the study on ancient potteries, is the investigation about the painting and different colorants used for decorating potteries in variety patterns with different colors. This study aims to explore the ancient people knowledge and their experiments on creation of color by making up dying materials that could be found close to their dwells. The present work represented an attempt to discern experimentally the base and chemical composition of colorants used as decorative elements on ancient ceramics...

The Mashhad Musalla is one of the largest and most beautiful historic musallas in Iran. Mashhad Musalla has been built during the Safavid Empire، ordered by Suleiman I. Tile's inscription on the Iwan of Musalla gateway gives the date of the end of construction، in the year 1087 AH. This monument is located at the east of Mashhad. The building has a high porch and two porticoes on both sides. Musalla of Mashhad is constructed of bricks and it was previously using for prayers of the two Eids. The building has been decorated with stucco decoration، tile-working، wall painting and Muqarnas. The building is decorated with stucco decoration، tile-working، painting and Muqarnas. The glazed tile decorations of the Mashhad Musalla include glazed haft-rang and mosaic tiles. During Safavid period، all religious buildings were embellished with tiling decorations. The most prominent decorative element in Mashhad Musalla is tile-working. The tiles in the Mashhad Musalla are predominantly white، black، blue، turquoise، green، yellow and brown. The subject studied in this paper is the creating colorants elements and identification of the chemical composition of the glazed tiles in Mashhad Musalla. Scientific and analytical research was done by Scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDX) and Polarized light microscopy (PLM). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to determine the elemental compositions of the tile glazes. According to the results obtained، tin (II) oxide together with lead glaze has yielded white color، manganese oxide had been responsible for black color، cobalt (II) together with magnesium oxide and fluorine has yielded blue color، copper oxide was responsible of the turquoise color، lead glaze with the low content of iron oxides has yielded a brown hue، yellow color is attained by lead antimonite and copper oxide together with lead glaze had been responsible for green color. The comparison of the results of the chemical analysis of the Safavid glazed tiles in historic Musalla of Mashhad and results obtained by other scholars who have worked on the identification of the elemental composition of the glaze of Safavid tiles in the other monuments of Iran، indicated that the creating colorant elements were the same، with a little difference، during the seventeenth century and over the Safavid period in Iran. Finally، thin-section analysis under a polarizing microscope was applied to study the petrographic composition on the tile samples. The results of structural study and mineralogical composition of the body mosaic tiles of Mashhad historical Musalla by petrography method showed that the presence of Muscovite، Hornblendes، Biotite، Quartz and Feldspar minerals as the main crystalline phases within the samples. Based on the applied methods، the mineralogical analysis of tile bodies has revealed some considerable results on the composition of this kind of tiles. Apart from minor differences related to the groundmass composition، all the tile bodies examined by thin-section analysis show similar microstructure characteristics and analogous petrographic compositions. On the other hand، the results of the elemental analysis of the glaze of Safavid tiles and considering little difference between chemical composition of the Safavid glazed tiles of the Mashhad historical Musalla and the elemental composition of the glaze of Safavid tiles in the other regions of Iran، it can be deduced that the raw materials used have probably been provided from the local resources.

Glass can be defined as an inorganic melted product that has solidified without crystallization. Glass-making industry has an ancient history and background in Iran. In Sasanian period، this industry along with other industries attained a considerable development in manufacturing techniques، designs and decoration methods. Surprisingly، little has been published on the detail of technologies they employed، studies which have been accomplished are restricted to classification and typology of objects and artifacts. Therefore، this research tries to illuminate the unknown parts of this industry by using archaeological sciences and variation of statistical studies. The particle induced X-ray emission spectroscopy (PIXE) is a remarkable tool for the scientific investigation of cultural heritage. Study of glass-making structures in Sasanian period at Tal-i Malyan-considering manufacturing techniques and raw materials-is the main purpose of this research. Tal-i Malyan is located in Baiza district of Fars province in Iran. It lies 43 kilometers west of Persepolis، near the western edge of a large intermountain valley system drained by the Kur River، at an altitude of 1500 meters. Although first occupied in the Jari period (5500 B. C. ) or earlier، evidence of later occupation such as Sasanian pottery kiln and coins found in burials، demonstrate Parthian and Sasanian settlements in Malyan. Hence، a group of 26 glass object fragments from Tal-i Malyan were selected as a case study in order to analyze them using PIXE method to determine the raw materials and technological aspects of their production and use. In addition، scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDS) images was used to gain a better understanding about the weathering process and decoration details. Applying statistical analysis such as cluster analysis has led to identify two glass recipes، different source of raw materials and different production technologies for manufacture of glass frit. The analytical data suggest that both soda-lime-silicate and potash-lime-silicate were producing in this area. Furthermore، iron and manganese contents show that the furnace temperature was mainly responsible for the development of green، blue and blue-green hues. Also، the presence of glass frits، quartz crystals and milky quartz indicates that the glassmaking manufacturing was a common and domestic industry in Malyan.

Quranic inscriptions are among the decorative elements commonly used in Islamic architecture. Thisis largely due to the fact that among the Islamic visual arts, calligraphy is the most related with holyQuran. Through calligraphy, the Holy Speech is represented before the viewers’ eyes. In addition toimmediate conveying of the holy message, the Islamic calligraphy meets, spiritually, an aesthetic functionas well. Calligraphic inscriptions, containing various arts such as calligraphy, gilding as well ascover embellishment, comprise a major part of Persian artistic and historical works. In respect of historicalstudies, thus, Quranic inscriptions have always been on focus. In this connection, one of themajor arts implemented onto fabric surfaces has been inscription the fabric support of which painted, mainly in water color, with geometric and floral patterns. Created in different eras with various techniquesand materials, inscriptions are among the most important architectural decorations giving aspecial effect to historical buildings...

Iran is rich in ancient mining and metallurgical relics. Nevertheless, the studies on these relics have sofar been mostly unsystematic. The road map for the ancient mining and metallurgical studies in Iran, that has been ordered by the Research Centre for Conservation of Cultural Relics of Iran (RCCCR), proposes a systematic multidisciplinary plan for the ancient mining and archaeometallurgical studiesof Iran in the future. In this regard, following a brief review of the few systematic researches on thetopic in Iran, the problems and challenges concerning the ancient relics of mining and metallurgy havebeen addressed...