F. Matau et al. / Journal of Advanced Research in Physics 4(1), 011304 (2013) 1 Abstract — The magnetic properties of pottery shards combined with XRD analysis and SEM analysis can offer useful data for their characterization. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the technological parameters applied for the pottery production (temperature, atmosphere, and duration of firing). In order to do this, we analyze pottery samples from the Cucuteni-Cetățuie archaeological site and clay samples collected from an area nearby the mentioned archaeological site. Different methods like XRD, SEM and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) have been employed to estimate the firing temperature and firing atmosphere. Keywords — Cucuteni pottery, clay samples, XRD analysis, SEM analysis, magnetic measurements I. INTRODUCTION Potshards are one of the most intriguing and durable artifacts made by the prehistoric communities. These artifacts were used for cooking and conserving food by virtually all cultures around the world. As pottery is one of the most frequent elements related to a civilization it is of paramount importance to develop reliable physical techniques to provide information concerning the technologies used in their production. The study of ceramic ware helps to identify the cultural characteristics, technological skills and trade patterns of ancient civilization. In this context, archaeometric investigations are considered a fundamental tool applied to uncover aspects regarding the technical parameters necessary for pottery production. Various methods of structural analysis such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) [1], [2], scanning electron microscopy (SEM) [3]-[6], and magnetic measurements [7]-[9] are found helpful for revealing different aspects of the ancient pottery technology. The basic material for creating pottery artefacts are natural, heterogenic clays. In order to characterize the technological features of the potshards, knowledge of the crystalline structure of the clay minerals and of the thermal Manuscript received May 8, 2013. * Corresponding author (alstancu@uaic.ro) parameters involved in the firing process are necessary. For evaluating the firing temperature of the selected pottery samples we have to take into account the degree of uncertainty originating in the firing history. The parameters which can be included in the firing history are the heating rate, the firing duration, the cooling rate, the firing atmosphere and also the possible re-firing due to vessel functionality [8]. Beside these, the most frequently investigated parameters in the archaeometric research are the maximum temperature reached during firing and the atmosphere (oxidising, semi-reducing or reducing) in which the vessel was fired. All the mentioned characteristics of the firing technique are strongly related to the technological level of the pottery production. An understanding of the thermal parameters used by the ancient potters can be estimated by combining the analysis of ancient pottery samples with clay samples fired in a laboratory controlled system. In the present study, we analyze pottery samples from the Cucuteni-Cetățuie archaeological site and clay samples collected from an area nearby the mentioned archaeological site. Different methods like XRD, SEM and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) have been employed to estimate the firing temperature and firing atmosphere. II. SITE LOCATION AND SIGNIFICANCE More than a century elapsed since the discovery and the first scientific enquiry of the eponymous site of the Cucuteni culture [10]. The site, located on a small plateau named Cetățuie which is bordered by abrupt slopes on three sides [11], was excavated for the first time by dilettante archaeologists from 1885 – 1890 [12]. The archaeological excavations continued on this site during 1909 – 1910 under the supervision of the German archaeologist, Hubert Schmidt [13]. After the Second World War the excavations of the eponymous site were carried on by a team of Romanian archaeologists lead by Mircea Petrescu- Dîmbovița [14]. During the last decades the archaeological research focused on defining the chronological sequences and cultural development of the Cucuteni-Trypillia civilization [15]. This Cucuteni Culture: A Systematic Physical Study of Pottery Shards Florica Matau 1,2 , Tiberiu Adrian Salaoru 1 , Valentin Nica 1 , Petronel Postolache 1 , Alexandru Stancu 1* 1 Faculty of Physics, Department of Physics & CARPATH, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Boulevard Carol I, 11, Iasi, 700506, Romania 2 Department of Sciences, ARHEOINVEST Platform of Interdisciplinary Research in Archaeology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Boulevard Carol I, 11, Iasi, 700506, Romania