Минералого-петрографско изследване на керамика от проучвания край с. Дъбене, Карловско

The analyzed pottery artefacts derive from vessels from ritual structures and from urns from a necropolis located near the village of Dubene, Karlovo Minicipality. The ritual structures are dated to the Early Bronze Age (EBA) III, while the cemetery is dated to the EBA II. All pottery artefacts are studied by optical (petrographic) and XRD analyses. The obtained data indicate that the most of the samples have similar mineralogy. The observed rock and mineral inclusions suggest local origin of the raw material, taking into account the composition of the rocks in the surroundings of the Dubene site. Some differences in terms of technology have been found. Based on the mineral composition and the XRD study, the firing temperature of the pottery is above 550°C. The analyzed white encrustation proved to be apatite, made most probably of bone matter.