Resumen
Myrto Georgakopoulou was an inspiring researcher who became the force behind many archaeological science projects in the region of the Arabian-Persian Gulf. In this paper, we wish to highlight her contributions to the analysis of ceramics of the Gulf. Myrto actively worked with co-authors of this paper on the design, sampling, data collection and analysis of ceramics. In this tribute to Myrto, we present a synthesis of new scientific data on ceramics and archaeological interpretations of ceramic technology based on the published results of past projects. Using a diachronic approach, the paper offers insight into patterns of production technology and provenance of ceramics dated from the pre-Islamic (c. 4th-7th century AD) to the Islamic (7th-20th centuries) horizons in the Gulf. The chemical and petrographic analyses of ceramic bodies and glazes were carried out on wares unearthed in Qatar (Doha, Murwab and NW Qatar), UAE (al-Ain), Oman (rural settlements in central Oman) and southern Iran. The focus of the presentation will be on the chemical (WD-XRF) analysis of ceramics, of which less information has been made public yet. Myrto was justly proud of the work that she had undertaken in the Gulf and would have loved to see this published. With this tribute to her, the co-authors of this paper wish to contribute to fulfil her aspirations to keep alive a very important part of her in our work.
Palabras clave
Myrto Georgakopoulou. Islamic ceramics. WD-XRF. Petrography.