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Celadon is an indispensable and important category in ancient ceramics. From secret colour porcelain to Yue kiln celadon, Longquan celadon, Yaozhou celadon, the colour description of celadon has always been a mystery. There are different descriptions of celadons's colour, including light green, sky green, pink green, plum green, olive green etc., and these colour descriptions are diverse and confusing. This paper analyses the colour measurement data of 223 publicly published celadon samples. Based on CIE (Commission Internationale de lEclairage) 1976 La*b* uniform colour space, the colour characteristics of celadons in each kiln site and dynasty are analysed, and the colour concentration of celadon at different kiln sites is analysed with H (Hue), C (Chroma) and L (Lightness). The corresponding relationship between the sensory description of the celadon colour and the quantitative description of the colour space has been determined, and the visualized HCL colour space diagram of various types of celadon colour data has been obtained, and the colour of celadon has been standardized. This research work is significant for the colour of celadon from sensory description to scientific description, and for the origin of ancient celadon colour and the evolutionary pedigree of celadon production.

Rescue excavations undertaken by Sapienza University of Rome and the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Department of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (MOTA-DACH) revealed a huge necropolis in the site of Khalet al-Jam'a, south-east of Bethlehem. Tombs were used during the Early Bronze IV (2300–2000 BCE) to Middle Bronze I–III (2000–1500 BCE) periods, and up to the Iron Age IB–II (1050–700 BCE). This paper presents the results of the minero-petrographic and chemical characterization of ceramic material from this site, with the aim to reconstruct the technological level achieved by ancient populations living in Bethlehem from the Early Bronze IV to the Iron Age by means of optical microscopy, X-ray Powder Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric Analysis. Results show that two main supplies of raw materials can be recognized at Khalet al-Jam'a. The Early and Middle Bronze Age ceramic production is made with the so-called Moza-clay: a calcareous-rich clay with predominant limestone, diffuse grains of calcite, dolomite, and rare sedimentary siliceous rock fragments, quartz and microfossils. The latest production, namely that of the Iron Age, is more likely consistent with the calcareous-foraminiferous-Rendzina soil clay, with predominant silty quartz and few microfossils. The firing temperature was estimated from the mineralogical assemblage in each sample. Abundant calcite, clay minerals and the absence of neo-formed minerals suggest samples fired at temperatures lower than 800 °C. For those samples where calcite was found along with gehlenite and wollastonite, the temperature was indeed estimated to be in the range 850–950 °C. Finally, the firing atmosphere was uncontrolled, as testified by the extreme variability in colour of the matrix. The results of this study enable a preliminary characterization of pottery, whose production shows differences related to specific historical periods and contribute to improve the knowledge about specific ceramic production used in funerary contexts.

This work reports the results of an interdisciplinary study seeking to address the issue of bone tempering in the Funnel Beaker (TRB) culture from the territory that is today Poland. In this paper we contribute to this debate by closely examining the geochemical characteristics (using INAA, ICP-MS, SEM-EDS, γ-ray spectrometry and OM) of six ceramic vessels collected from the archaeological site in Kaldus, northern Poland. Particular emphasis is placed on the need to clarify whether the bones in the pottery from Kaldus were deliberately added or incidentally incorporated in a clay paste. Through exploring the chemical, mineralogical and petrographic composition of ceramics, we also investigate whether different pastes were used contemporarily by potters from Kaldus for different types of wares during the mid-4th millennium BC. The results has allowed us to hypothesise a local provenance of the bone-tempered vase from Kaldus. Furthermore, the TRB potters’ choices to add crushed and burned bones to a clay paste seemed to lack a technological basis. Rather, it appears that a temper made of bones had strong symbolic associations and was most likely ritualised in the working memory of the TRB potters from Kaldus, or even the entire TRB East Group milieu.

The Liaotianjianshan kiln dates back to ca. 3700 years ago as a typical kiln used to manufacture proto-porcelain and stamped stoneware. In this paper, 22 ceramic shard samples from Liaotianjianshan kiln sites were selected to be analyzed by XRF, EMPA-WDS and DIL. The results indicated that the two types of samples have similar chemical characteristics in the body and the consistent firing temperature. The element composition of the kiln sites had low iron and calcium content, which was different from the materials from other areas. The samples had high calcium glazes. Two different types of glaze recipes were distinguished by the content of the minor elements, which also corresponded to the changes in the glaze color. The regular change of the glaze composition and the color reflected an advanced ability of the craftsman to control the glaze recipes. The ceramic properties and the technical maturity revealed that the manufacturing technology of the proto-porcelain of the Liaotianjianshan sites were in the leading level in Southern China during Xia and Shang periods, and Quanzhou seems to be one of the original producing locations of proto-porcelain within China.

The Nan Kiln and Lantian Kiln site in Jingdezhen were excavated in 2012 by Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and other units. According to the archaeological materials, many experts agree that the ceramic industry of Jingdezhen, the porcelain capital of the ancient world, can be dated back at least to Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD). An in-depth study on the celadon of the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties (897–979 AD) unearthed from these two sites is very important for exploring the origin and early development of Jingdezhen ceramic industry. This paper comparatively analyzes the chemical composition and processing characteristics of the celadon aforementioned to shed light on the early celadon of Jingdezhen and its initial development.