FTIR Investigations of the Selected Pottery Sample Excavated From Korkai-Tamil Nadu, South India

The present work investigates the presence of minerals, raw materials used and ceramic technologies adopted in making pottery during the ancient period belonging to one of the important archeological site Korkai of Tamil Nadu, India. One pottery sample of the period 800BC is used for the present work. Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectroscopy has been used for the studies. The presence of quartz, kaolinite, montmorillonite, haematite and magnetite in the selected pottery sample has been identified. The classification of the firing temperatures and firing features of pottery sample is also presented. The firing of pottery under reduced condition is judged from the magnetite and haematite contents establishing the ability of the ancient artisans of Tamilnadu to achieve controlled firing.