Chemical variations of clays and pottery within a relatively small spatial extent: Initial insights from modern pottery-making in Central China

Abstract

The chemical variations of pottery provide important insights into how pottery may have been produced, distributed, and consumed within a certain spatial extent. Present-day communities engaged in pottery-making, using traditional materials and techniques, offer valuable materials and information for exploring this subject. In China, no ethnoarchaeological study has been carried out, along with archaeometric methods and techniques, to test and compare the composition of clays, tempering materials, and vessels within a relatively small spatial extent for which there is verification from local informants. Focusing on a still active pottery-making workshop located in Guidian, within Zhoudang Town of Luoshan County, Xinyang City, Henan Province of central China, we collected 152 samples (including 53 clays and 95 sherds) from five pottery kiln sites (Guidian, Shangfuchong, Zuoyao, Songyao, and Houzhouyao) within a relatively small sector of the town. The five kiln sites have been involved in pottery making for over a century, and all of them, except for the Guidian and Shangfuchong kiln sites, were fully abandoned before 1949 AD. The composition of prepared powder samples was determined by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (WDXRF). By conducting multivariate statistical analyses on the chemical compositional dataset and drawing upon substantial information from our informants (i.e., specialized potters, local villagers, and cultural heritage management personnel), we present initial insights into the chemical variations in a relatively small spatial limit while also delving into their implications for pottery provenance studies. Furthermore, we highlight subjects to be addressed in forthcoming studies.