Terqa Preliminary Reports, No. 11: Sourcing Techniques for Ceramics and Soils

The primary objectives of this research were to (1) establish an overall orientation and framework for future analysis of this type at Terga and (2) to determine on a preliminary basis the relationship of ceramics and soils of two sites in the Near East: ancient Terga (modern Ashara in Syria) and Dilbat (modern Tell Deylem in Iraq). The long-term objective of this sourcing was to contribute data toward the reconstruction of social, political and economic trends. A truly interdisciplinary effort was required , as several universities and analytical techniques were utilized-atomic absorption, optical emission, thin section, botanical and computer analyses. A general attempt was made to suggest and formulate a continuum of research standards, from the original field collection of samples to the actual laboratory analysis; this standardization would establish an overall climate of reproducibility and credibility. The most important substantive results are found in the areas of ceramic composition, ceramic clay / (soil) relationships, atomic absorption and computer refinement for archaeological analysis.