Lithological study of ancient roof tiles in the Gyokusen-kan Collection of the Kyushu University Museum, Japan

• IIZUKA Yoshiyuki

  Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica

• CHIKARA Wakako

  Onojo Cocoro-no-furusato-kan City Museum

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 九州大学総合研究博物館所蔵・玉泉館古代瓦資料の岩相学的研究

Abstract

A series of lithological analysis for ancient roof tiles has been carried out using the electron microprobe technique. Thirty-two roof tile samples were selected from the Gyoku-sen-kan collection in the Kyushu University Museum, and are typologically-dated from the Asuka to Heian Periods, corresponding to the 7th to the 12th centuries AD. Based on electron microscopic observation, the textures of roof tiles’ interiors are divided in two types, such as sintered and welded textures that correspond to lower and higher firing temperatures, respectively. From the sections of sintered textured samples, quartz, K-feldspar, albite, plagioclase, biotite and muscovite of granitic origin, and glass shards, plagioclase and biotite of volcanic origin were identified. Mineral and glass assemblages suggest source materials were mixtures and it is difficult to identify distinct source areas. The contained volcanic glasses are derived from Aira caldera (AT) and Kikai caldera (K-Ah), which are meaning the firing temperature was not reached about magma temperature. The results indicate that there are three different firing temperatures, namely: lower (650-850℃) with mica; medium (850-1150℃) with volcanic glass; and higher (1150-1400℃) without volcanic glass and welded texture. It is suggested that high-temperature firing technique of kiln was not established yet in the early period of roof tile manufacturing in Kyushu area.

Journal

• 九州大学総合研究博物館研究報告

  九州大学総合研究博物館研究報告 18 15-37, 2021-03-31

  The Kyushu University Museum

Keywords

• Gyoku-sen-kan collection
• ancient roof tiles
• firing temperature
• texture of interior
• tempering minerals
• distal tephra

Details

• CRID: 1390572174834493568
• NII Article ID: 120007027021
• NII Book ID: AA11909273
• DOI: 10.15017/4377884
• HANDLE: 2324/4377884
• ISSN: 13483080
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • IRDB
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Allowed