NAA Study on Characteristics and Sources of Raw Materials of Celadon Bodies from Qingliangsi Kiln and Zhanggongxiang Kiln

Key words: 
• Qingliangsi kiln /
• Zhanggongxiang kiln /
• neutron activation analysis /
• principle component analysis /
• scatter analysis

Abstract: Thirtyseven samples of ancient Chinese Ru porcelain bodies unearthed from Qingliangsi kiln(containing 32 Ru official porcelain bodies and 5 Ru folk porcelain bodies), thirtytwo samples of ancient celadon bodies from Zhanggongxiang kiln, and fourteen samples of modern mineral, were selected and analyzed by neutron activation analysis (NAA) method. Twentythree elements were measured.The data of these elemental contents were processed by scatter analysis and principle component analysis methods in order to determine the characteristics and sources of the raw materials of the celadon porcelain bodies from the foregoing two kilns. The results show that Fe, Ce, Ba, Ta, Th, La, Sm and Cr are the fingerprint elements to distinguish the ancient Ru official porcelain bodies from ancient celadon bodies of Zhanggongxiang kiln. The sources of the raw material of the ancient Ru official porcelain bodies from Qingliangsi kiln are more concentrated and stable than those from Zhanggongxiang kiln. The Ru folk porcelain bidies and the Ru official porcelain bidies from Qingliangsi kiln have the same provenance, both sources of which are local. The raw material origins of the ancient celadon bodies from Zhanggongxiang kiln is a little dispersed and the compositions of the raw material are different from the Ru porcelains, but the distance is not far away from each other.