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clay mineralogical studies for aeginetan ware, aegina , greece

Explore the unique clay deposit on Aegina Island and its implications in proto-industrialization during the Early Greek Bronze Age. Uncover the mineralogical results and archaeological significance of the area.

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clay mineralogical studies for aeginetan ware, aegina , greece

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  1. clay mineralogical studies for aeginetan ware, aegina, greece C. M. Shriner1, G. E. Christidis2, J. G. Brophy1 K. L. Finger3, and H. H. Murray1 1 Dept. of Geological Sciences, Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN, USA; 2 Dept. of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece 3 Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA

  2. “The habitat of clay minerals is essentially that of man, the very thin surface of contact between air, water and earth. The clays belong to the earth but owe most of their characteristics to the interaction of water and air. So does man. We are thus intimately related to clays, more than the biblical prophecy of origin and destiny might lead us to believe. For in fact, man’s behavior in the clay contact zone affects all of his fellow living creatures, whether he wishes it or not. Clays are a filter and a substrate for life (Velde, 1992).”

  3. MODEL FOR CULTURAL CHANGE IN THE HELLADIC CULTURE OF THE GREEK EARLY BRONZE AGE ► Internal not External Change ► Rapid Technological Change in many emerging industries ► Let’s look at one specific industry, i.e. CERAMICS ► Technological change takes the form of a rapid shift from fine to coarse ware production (2200-2000 B.C.) ► Viewed as a response to increased demand from other emerging industries for a structural ceramic

  4. WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT AEGINA? ► Evidence suggests that Aegina Island was a major producer of this coarse ware. ► Question is why Aegina and not some other location, e.g. Argive Plain or Melos? ► Something unique/special about the Aegina led to this situation. WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT AEGINA? ► Aegina possesses a large, laterally extensive clay horizon that: (1) contains ca. 50% clay, and (2) has a natural internal textural variation from fine to coarse-grained. 

  5. Glass Alteration

  6. Internal Textural Variation

  7. Foraminifera Reveal Deep-Water Deposition in the Pliocene Epoch Globorotaliapuncticulata: a plankticforam that is an index for the Pliocene. Some of the benthic forams are restricted to deeper water. Chilostomella ovoidea Martinottiella communis Hansenisca neosoldanii Pullenia bulloides Oridorsalis umbonatus Stilostomella adolphina

  8. MINERALOGICAL RESULTS Mineralogy of Volcanic Deposit The volcanic deposit contains quartz, feldspar, calcite, kaolinite, and mixed layer illite-smectite and chlorite-smectite. XRD patterns of heated, glycolated and air-dried samples show the interlayering of smectite with both illite and chlorite.

  9. A B C D

  10. PROTO-INDUSTRIALIZATION? ► Aegina deposit is unique in the Aegean. ► Aegina turns out to be THE ONLY island where the altered submarine tuff has been lifted and exposed. ► Combination of geologic events led to a large clay deposit being fully explored, characterized and then mined to produce large volumes of specialized ceramic products. ► Is this different than what is done today? We suggest that this is proto-industrialization.

  11. EMERGENT PROTO-INDUSTRIAL DEPOSIT Early Greek Bronze Age, ca. 2400-2200 B.C. EMERGENT INDUSTRIAL MINERALS COMPLEX Brazil, 2007 A.D.

  12. GEOLOGICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS ► UNRECOGNIZED CLAY MINERALOGICAL UNIT IDENTIFIED ► TEMPER ISSUE AND INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATION ► CUMULATIVE INDUSTRIAL IMPRESSION ► MATERIALS SCIENCE APPROACH

  13. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES • THE COTTON FOUNDATION (UK) • INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE • SCHRADER ARCHAEOLOGICAL ENDOWMENT FUND (IU) • THE INSTITUTE OF AEGEAN PREHISTORY • THE AMERICAN SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL STUDIES AT ATHENS • THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES, INDIANA UNIVERSITY • RUTH DROPPO, VISUAL CONSULTANT, INDIANA UNIVERSITY

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