CLAY MINERALOGICAL CLAY MINERALOGICAL STUDIES FOR AEGINETAN STUDIES FOR AEGINETAN WARE, AEGINA, GREECEWARE, AEGINA, GREECE

C. M. ShrinerC. M. Shriner11, G. E. Christidis, G. E. Christidis22, J. G. Brophy, J. G. Brophy11

K. L. FingerK. L. Finger33, and H. H. Murray, and H. H. Murray11   

1 1 Dept. of Geological Sciences, Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN, USA; Dept. of Geological Sciences, Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN, USA; 2 2 Dept. of Mineral Resources Engineering, Dept. of Mineral Resources Engineering,

Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece 3 3 Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USAMuseum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA

““The habitat of clay minerals is essentially that of man, the very The habitat of clay minerals is essentially that of man, the very thin surface of contact between air, water and earth. The clays thin surface of contact between air, water and earth. The clays belong to the earth but owe most of their characteristics to the belong to the earth but owe most of their characteristics to the interaction of water and air. interaction of water and air.

So does man. So does man.

We are thus intimately related to clays, more than the biblical We are thus intimately related to clays, more than the biblical prophecy of origin and destiny might lead us to believe. For in prophecy of origin and destiny might lead us to believe. For in fact, man’s behavior in the clay contact zone affects all of his fact, man’s behavior in the clay contact zone affects all of his fellow living creatures, whether he wishes it or not. fellow living creatures, whether he wishes it or not.

Clays are a filter and a substrate for lifeClays are a filter and a substrate for life ( (Velde, 1992Velde, 1992).”).”

MODEL FOR CULTURAL CHANGE IN THE MODEL FOR CULTURAL CHANGE IN THE HELLADIC CULTURE OF THE GREEK EARLY HELLADIC CULTURE OF THE GREEK EARLY

BRONZE AGEBRONZE AGE

► ► Internal not External ChangeInternal not External Change

► ► Rapid Technological Change in many emerging Rapid Technological Change in many emerging industriesindustries

► ► Let’s look at one specific industry, i.e. CERAMICSLet’s look at one specific industry, i.e. CERAMICS

► ► Technological change takes the form of a rapid shift Technological change takes the form of a rapid shift from fine to coarse ware production (2200-2000 B.C.)from fine to coarse ware production (2200-2000 B.C.)

► ► Viewed as a response to increased demand from other Viewed as a response to increased demand from other emerging industries for a structural ceramicemerging industries for a structural ceramic

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT AEGINA?WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT AEGINA?

► ► Evidence suggests that Aegina Island was a major producer Evidence suggests that Aegina Island was a major producer of this coarse ware.of this coarse ware.

► ► Question is why Aegina and not some other location, e.g. Question is why Aegina and not some other location, e.g. Argive Plain or Melos?Argive Plain or Melos?

► ► Something unique/special about the Aegina led to this Something unique/special about the Aegina led to this situation. WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT AEGINA?situation. WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT AEGINA?

► ► Aegina possesses a large, laterally extensive clay horizon Aegina possesses a large, laterally extensive clay horizon that: (1) contains ca. 50% clay, and (2) has a natural internal that: (1) contains ca. 50% clay, and (2) has a natural internal textural variation from fine to coarse-grained. textural variation from fine to coarse-grained. 

Glass AlterationGlass Alteration

Internal Textural VariationInternal Textural Variation

Foraminifera Reveal Deep-Water DepositionForaminifera Reveal Deep-Water Deposition in the Pliocene Epochin the Pliocene Epoch

Globorotalia puncticulataGloborotalia puncticulata: a planktic foram that is an : a planktic foram that is an index for the Pliocene.index for the Pliocene.

Some of the benthic forams are restricted to deeper Some of the benthic forams are restricted to deeper water.water.

Martinottiella communis

Hansenisca neosoldanii

Pullenia bulloides

Oridorsalis umbonatus

Chilostomella ovoidea

Stilostomella adolphina

XRD patterns of heated, glycolated and air-dried samples show the XRD patterns of heated, glycolated and air-dried samples show the interlayering of smectite with both illite and chlorite.interlayering of smectite with both illite and chlorite.

Mineralogy of Volcanic Mineralogy of Volcanic DepositDeposit

The volcanic deposit contains The volcanic deposit contains quartz, feldspar, calcite, quartz, feldspar, calcite, kaolinite, and mixed layer illite-kaolinite, and mixed layer illite-smectite and chlorite-smectite. smectite and chlorite-smectite.

MINERALOGICAL RESULTSMINERALOGICAL RESULTS

BA

C D

PROTO-INDUSTRIALIZATION?PROTO-INDUSTRIALIZATION?

► ► Aegina deposit is unique in the Aegean.Aegina deposit is unique in the Aegean.

► ► Aegina turns out to be THE ONLY island where the Aegina turns out to be THE ONLY island where the altered submarine tuff has been lifted and exposed.altered submarine tuff has been lifted and exposed.

► ► Combination of geologic events led to a large clay Combination of geologic events led to a large clay deposit being fully explored, characterized and then deposit being fully explored, characterized and then mined to produce large volumes of specialized ceramic mined to produce large volumes of specialized ceramic products.products.

► ► Is this different than what is done today? We suggest Is this different than what is done today? We suggest that this is proto-industrialization.that this is proto-industrialization.

EMERGENT PROTO-INDUSTRIAL EMERGENT PROTO-INDUSTRIAL DEPOSITDEPOSIT

Early Greek Bronze Age, Early Greek Bronze Age, ca. 2400-2200 B.C.ca. 2400-2200 B.C.

EMERGENT INDUSTRIAL MINERALS COMPLEX

Brazil, 2007 A.D.

GEOLOGICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL GEOLOGICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONSIMPLICATIONS

► ► UNRECOGNIZED CLAY MINERALOGICAL UNIT UNRECOGNIZED CLAY MINERALOGICAL UNIT IDENTIFIED IDENTIFIED

► ► TEMPER ISSUE AND INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATIONTEMPER ISSUE AND INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATION

► ► CUMULATIVE INDUSTRIAL IMPRESSION CUMULATIVE INDUSTRIAL IMPRESSION

► ► MATERIALS SCIENCE APPROACHMATERIALS SCIENCE APPROACH

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIESTHE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES

• THE COTTON FOUNDATION (UK)THE COTTON FOUNDATION (UK)

• INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCEINDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

• SCHRADER ARCHAEOLOGICAL ENDOWMENT FUND (IU)SCHRADER ARCHAEOLOGICAL ENDOWMENT FUND (IU)

• THE INSTITUTE OF AEGEAN PREHISTORYTHE INSTITUTE OF AEGEAN PREHISTORY

• THE AMERICAN SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL STUDIES AT ATHENSTHE AMERICAN SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL STUDIES AT ATHENS

• THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES, INDIANA THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES, INDIANA UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY

• RUTH DROPPO, VISUAL CONSULTANT, INDIANA UNIVERSITYRUTH DROPPO, VISUAL CONSULTANT, INDIANA UNIVERSITY