Knowledge of Conservation and Restoration

Technical and Structural Study of Iron Age Gray Pottery; A Case Study of Pottery from Zavarehvar Site Excavation in Varamin Plain

Fatemeh Alimirzaei

The Iron Age in Iran (550-1450 BC) and beyond, represents a period characterized by significant social, cultural, economic and technological transformations during its evolutionary stages. Zavarehvar is an Iron Age settlement site located in the Varamin plain in central region of Iran, where numerous excavations have been carried out by various archeologists in recent decades. During the 2017 excavation at the Zavarehvar site, a number of gray pottery pieces related to burials were discovered. Given the distribution of the Iron Age cemeteries and the limited technical studies conducted on these potteries, our understanding of the production methods such as texture, components, and manufacturing processes is crucial for comprehending the pottery production technology of this specific period. Therefore, the results from laboratory studies can be beneficial in finding the production process of these artifacts. This research aimed to provide more precise knowledge for conducting comparative studies and determining the local origin of these artifacts by examining nine Iron Age pottery samples from this region using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and petrographic analysis of thin sections. The results indicated that the main phases of the potteries, based on petrography, include quartz (SiO2), and calcite. The ICP-MS results also largely confirmed some of the petrographic observations. However, a significant part of the chemical clustering of ceramics was not due to heterogeneity in elemental composition, nor to differences in the clay sources used. Additionally, we can say that the potteries are local origin, since the soils studied showed significant similarities in trace elements with the pottery samples, confirming their local origin.

Microscopic Structure Analysis of Qoli Darvish Pottery from the Early Bronze Age to Iron Age I

Seyed Iraj Beheshti

Petrographic studies play a significant role in understanding the structural characteristics and compositions of ceramic artifacts, contributing to the identification of cultural transformations and exchanges based on technical changes in these objects. As such, it is consistently a central component of studies on analyzable artifacts. The archaeological site of Qoli Darvish, located 3 km south of the city of Qom, spans over an area of approximately 30 hectares and contains valuable archaeological remains, including distinctive types of pottery ranging from the Early Bronze Age to Iron Age I. In this study, aimed at investigating the texture, components, and classification of the pottery, 37 pieces of ceramic artifacts discovered during the 2015 excavations were analyzed. Thin-section petrographic analysis, focusing on identifying microscopic structures and existing minerals, was used for this purpose. The results revealed three distinct textures in the pottery samples: coarse-grained heterogeneous or porphyritic texture, fine-grained or silty texture, and clastic texture. The clay matrix of these ceramics shows minimal sorting of its components and contains grog and coarse fillers. Various igneous rock fragments, grog (remnants of silt, clay, or crushed ceramics), calcite, and quartz are visible in the samples. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the materials used in the production of these ceramics were generally local and sourced from the surrounding region.

Typology of Tiles in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Takht-e Suleyman

Negar Kafilli

The protection of historical monuments has two aspects: one that considers the material features, and the other that considers its spiritual, artistic, historical, and aesthetic values. Therefore, the introduction, documentation and recording various historical works, as a part of the conservation and restoration process, not only promote the understanding and recognition of the values of art and culture, but also aid in their protection and revive. This research aims to address this protective need by introducing the collection of tiles of from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Takht-e Soleiman, as one of the valuable collections of Iranian art, known for its antiquity and diversity. To achieve this goal, a descriptive and analytical method was employed along with the examination and collection of field documentation and library studies. As a result of this study, over 5400 tiles were identified, including all kinds of exquisite luster tiles in diverse shapes and patterns, azure, turquoise, gilded tiles with embossed patterns, geometric tiles, samples of monochromatic tiles, and some brick tiles.

Ceramic Types Classification Based on Body Structure, Firing Temperature and Manufacturing Techniques

Mohammad Yaghizaei

Ceramics and the ceramics industry have undergone numerous changes since the emergence of tool-making humans on Earth. These changes have led to the development of various types of ceramics, differing in shape, design, nomenclature, size, preparation and Making methods. These are primarily found in archaeological excavations, and their conservation and restoration can be more accurately performed by understanding and identifying their types and varieties. Ceramics are classified into different types based on their manufacturing technique, firing temperature, the clay used, and the additives used in the clay body. These classifications can sometimes be quite scattered. For instance, based on firing temperature, they can be divided into four categories: stoneware, earthenware, bone China, and porcelain. Based on manufacturing methods, they can be classified into hand-built, slab-built, wheel-thrown, molded, and pressed. The aim of this research is to introduce the most important types of ceramics and their characteristics, including firing temperature, manufacturing technique, and other structural properties and materials used in the body. To achieve this goal, this study will explain some of the terminology used in ceramics and classify ceramics based on firing temperature, manufacturing method, and the type of clay that constitutes their clay body.

The Report of an Experience: Restoration of a Painted Bowl Pottery Belonging to the Old Bronze Age (2500-3000 BC) by Using Papier-Mache

Mehdi Razani

The Reconstruction of damaged cultural-historical artifacts is essential for facilitating communication with the audience and, in some cases, in their conservation. The methods used for reconstructing pottery artifacts vary based on their destructive characteristics, missing parts, and the requirements of the cultural-social context. These methods have been carried out using different materials and techniques throughout different periods. Naturally, as science advances in the field of conservation and restoration, these methods and materials continue to evolve. This article not only introduces some restoration methods for pottery objects but also delves into the restoration of delicate pieces using the papier-mâché technique. Reconstructing delicate objects presents challenges concerning stability and balance due to the added weight the use of numerous filling materials during the reconstruction of missing parts can create problems in maintaining the balance and stability of the artifact. Therefore, in order to assess the papier-mâché method in restoring delicate and lightweight pottery artifacts, a fine and lightweight vessel acquired from the archaeological excavations at the Silveh tepe, situated in West Azarbaijan province, was restored. The main objective of this article is to introduce and implement a fresh approach for reconstructing fragile pottery objects with papier-mâché, which is deemed a thoughtful method due to its lightness, strength, ease of modification, and ability to preserve the balance and stability of the artifacts.

Report on the Conservation and Restoration of Decorated Pottery from the Tappeh-Silveh in Piranshahr; A Memorial of Artifacts Submerged in the Silveh Dam

Shiva Razavi

Pottery is one of the artistic-technical craft that has persisted for several millennia from prehistoric times to the present day. Such artifacts, particularly in Iran, exhibit high stylistic and technological diversity. In most archaeological excavations, consistently various types of these artifacts from different historical periods and styles have been discovered, whose technical study and form recovery can provide valuable information to researchers in various fields. Among these excavations is the Tappeh-Silveh in Piranshahr, where diverse pottery dating back to the Chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age, Iron Age, as well as remnants from the Parthian period and the subsequent Islamic period have been uncovered. The specimen studied in this article is a decorated orange pottery piece with black and red colors and geometric patterns, belonging to the Bronze Age from this site. This piece has sustained damages such as fractures, losses, and deposits, , which have been improperly repaired. It requires cleaning, reattachment, and reconstruction of the missing parts, while adhering to the theoretical principles of conservation. Accordingly, after necessary pathological and technical studies of the artifact using laboratory methods, an appropriate cleaning method was selected, and essential actions were taken towards its protection and restoration.

A Note on Using the Knowledge of Symmetry in the Rearrangement of Decorative Tile Patterns in Historical Buildings

Mehdi Alavi

In the past, the art of designing and painting tiles was passed from master to apprentice, and each time the creativity of different artists gave a different effect to these works. Therefore, the methods of drawing these motifs have never been written down. As we know, most of the motifs used in the decoration of historical tiles have a geometric origin, and their analysis or drawing requires knowledge of projection. Therefore, in this note, an attempt has been made to propose the hypothesis of the matching of symmetrical elements in the patterns of historical tiles with the symmetrical elements of material crystals, while examining the geometric structure of different motifs, rules based on symmetry data are presented for drawing these motifs. It is believed that with the help of this method, the rearrangement of traditional motifs in the tile production industry, as well as their recovery for the restoration of damaged parts using formula writing and marking, will become easier.