Artefacts from Ban Chiang, Thailand: pottery with hematite-red geometric patterns

A detailed analysis of pottery from Ban Chiang, Thailand, reveals the use of hematite as a red pigment in geometric patterns during the Iron Age (ca. 300 BC–200 AD). This discovery was made through advanced techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, and electron microprobe analysis, which confirmed the mineralogical composition of the red paint. The study also compared the chemical composition of pottery from different periods, highlighting significant differences in the presence of iron oxides between the Bronze Age (ca. 1000–300 BC) and Iron Age samples. These findings provide new insights into the technological sophistication and cultural significance of Ban Chiang's ceramic traditions.

Bismayer, U., Srilomsak, S., Treekamol, Y., Tanthanuch, W., & Suriyatham, K. (2020). Artefacts from Ban Chiang, Thailand: pottery with hematite-red geometric patterns. Zeitschrift Für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 235(11), 559–568. https://doi.org/10.1515/zkri-2020-0076