Development of a Field Petrographic Analysis System and its Application to the Study of Socioeconomic Interaction Networks of the Early Harappan North

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This work documents the development and field testing of a lightweight, portable kit permitting on-site excavation decisions and allowing analysis where the export of cultural artefacts is prohibited. A high-quality field microscope was modified for petrography and tested with a lightweight saw and seven cold-curing resins. The test study involved preparation and analysis of thin sections of Early Harappan Period ceramics from four sites in Pakistan. Mineral inclusions were identified using standard petrographic techniques, and a textural analysis based on the quartz inclusions was conducted. Size, angularity, sphericity and weathering of inclusions were recorded and compared with local and regional geological data. The results were used to examine localised ceramic technologies at the sites and the extent of intersite interaction with respect to ceramic production and technology. Results suggested that Rehman Dheri and Harappa independently developed fairly sophisticated ceramic industries, and confirmed the applicability and usefulness of the kit developed.