Microbial activity and studies on excavated megalithic micaceous potsherds from Peninsular India

Abstract The abundantly available mica flakes were added in raw materials to manufacture pottery in Central Peninsular India during the early Iron Age (700-300 BCE) for storage and glittering. The micaceous potsherds from the excavated megalithic site of Nagpur were studied for their composition, manufacturing techniques, microstructural features, microbial colonization, and estimation of firing temperature. The analytical techniques used were micro-XRF, FTIR, XRD, FEG-SEM, mercury porosimetry (MIP), and thermal analysis. The XRF and SEM-EDX data revealed that the potteries were coated with aq...