Abstract

DAVILA-ALCOCER, Víctor Manuel; LOPEZ-ORTEGA, Teresita  and  VARGAS PACHECO, Ernesto. Pottery Through its Petrographic Analysis. Study of Pieces from the Archaeological Zone of El Tigre in Campeche, Mexico. Intervención (Méx. DF) [online]. 2018, vol.9, n.18, pp.54-64. ISSN 2007-249X.  https://doi.org/10.30763/intervencion.2018.17.200.

The petrographic study of six fragments of ceramic pots extracted from the archaeological zone of El Tigre, Campeche, Mexico, is presented. The aim is to know the deterioration process that they have suffered so that it is possible to carry out conservation treatments for this type of pots. Assuming that the fragmentation and deterioration were due to the pressure of the soil and the in-situ interaction of its materials with those of the constituents of the pots, the petrographic analysis was carried out to determine the mineralogical composition and the state of alteration of the main minerals. Three mineralogical groups are reported: the first with a homogeneous composition, chalky; the second with volcanic constituents; and the third with a predominance of calcite fragments in the degreasers. These mineralogical changes are related to different sampling sites and correspond to different types of alterations, allowing the restorer to establish the most appropriate techniques.

Keywords : archaeological pottery; petrography; deterioration; El Tigre; Campeche; Mexico.