Chemical analysis of Ayyubid Mamluk pottery from al-Rabbah, southern Jordan : a preliminary study

Abstract EN

This paper aims at an archaeological descriptive study of a collection of glazed and painted Ayyubid / Mamluk pottery sherds.

the samples were excavated from al-Rabbah in southern Jordan.

the pottery vessels were divided into four groups according to the glazing color and manufacture method, as follows : yellow glazed, brown glazed, green glazed, and painted cream pottery.

chemical analysis examination of four samples was carried out for the first time to identify and characterize their chemical composition, in addition to comparing them with the Ayyubid / Mamluk pottery, which was found in some of the archaeological sites in Jordan.

the study concludes, based on persuasive evidence provided by the results of the chemical analysis, that al-Rabbah pottery sherds have at least two different geographical sources.

the first was external, indicating that the pottery vessels were imported from Egypt or Syria.

the second was extracted from the surrounding area of al-Rabbah, which confirms that it was the product of the local industry.