A mineralogical and geochemical investigation of archaeological pottery shards found at Bukit Komel, Sungai Tembeling, Pahang

This study presents the results of mineralogical and geochemical analyses carried out on prehistoric pottery of Bukit Komel in Sungai Tembeling, Pahang. The Bukit Komel archaeological site, which was excavated in 2022, has produced a significant number of earthenware potteries mainly in the form of body and rim shards. Since information on the prehistory pottery of Sungai Tembeling is limited, it was decided that morphological and analytical techniques should be performed in order to gain insights on pottery physical characteristics, technology and source. The morphological analysis technique used on Bukit Komel pottery involves the study of pottery shape, size, colour and design while the scientific analysis comprises X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thin section petrography and image analysis methods. Based on geochemical and mineralogical results, this study concludes that the Bukit Komel pottery was locally made by using clay sourced from Sungai Tembeling. This was also confirmed by the findings of comparative study conducted between the Bukit Komel pottery and clay extracted from Sungai Tembeling. Similar minerals found amidst the pottery and clay are quartz, albite, muscovite and microcline. Technology-wise, the Bukit Komel pottery was hand-made using the paddle and anvil technique, and sand-tempered. Pottery shapes include flat- and round-bottomed vessels with plain, red-slipped, impressed and incised designs. Based on colour analysis, the Bukit Komel pottery was very likely fired using the open-firing technique at low temperatures, perhaps between 400 °C and 600 °C.