Talc‐Tempered Pottery From Bala Hissar, Kabul: An Analytical Study

Potsherds of cooking ware excavated at Bala Hissar archaeological site in Kabul were studied using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and optical microscopy. The sherds revealed to be talc-tempered associated with clinochlore, calcite, dolomite, palygorskite and chromite. It is argued that talc-schist has been most probably supplied from local talc deposits of Lalandar, located about 20 km southwest of the site. The phases identified and morphology of the crystals in the body of the potsherds suggest that they experienced firing temperatures exceeding 700°C.