The physical, chemical and mineralogical aspects of the use of Mössbauer spectroscopy in studies of clay-based ceramics are
described. Mössbauer spectra of pottery clays fired under oxidising, reducing and changing conditions are explained, and the
possibilities of using Mössbauer spectra to derive information on the firing temperatures and the kiln atmosphere during firing
in antiquity are discussed and illustrated by examples.
ceramics - clay minerals - iron oxides - hyperfine interactions - firing behaviour
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.