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Experiments in Ceramic Technology: The Effects of Various Tempering Materials on Impact and Thermal-Shock Resistance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Gordon Bronitsky  and
Robert Hamer
Gordon Bronitsky
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
Robert Hamer
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University—Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA 23284
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Abstract

Prehistoric potters used a wide variety of materials as temper, or filler. Although temper selection has often been assumed to be the result of purely cultural factors, recent research indicates temper had technological functions as well. Impact and thermal-shock resistance data of a range of kinds, grades, and amounts of temper are presented. Test results indicate that the use of finely-ground tempers in general and burned shell temper in particular produce briquettes that are significantly more durable than briquettes incorporating other materials.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 51 , Issue 1 , January 1986 , pp. 89 - 101
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1986

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References

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