Archaeological Ceramics in Thin Section: A Colour Guide is the first handbook dedicated to the study and interpretation of archaeological ceramics in thin section. Using full colour photomicrographs of ceramic artefacts and accompanying text, the book illustrates the wide range of petrographic and microstructural phenomena that occur in ancient ceramics under the microscope. It assesses the evidence in thin section for the nature and origin of ceramic raw materials and production sequence of ancient pottery by referring to published studies, experimental investigations and observations of ceramic manufacture in traditional societies. The handbook is aimed at research students, scientists and consultants examining pottery and other archaeological ceramic materials in thin section with the polarising microscope.