A Surface-Structure Framework for Observing Ceramic Age

Abstract Traditional methods for determining the age of ceramics have long relied on experience-based judgment and comprehensive visual impressions. While effective in practice, these methods have notable limitations: the evaluation process is difficult to structure and the observations are often not reproducible. In reality, ceramics, during prolonged use, storage, and environmental exposure, gradually develop a series of stable physical changes on their glaze and body surfaces. These changes are not random but display cumulative and structured characteristics over time. This paper introduces a new conceptual framework: Temporal Structure of Ceramics. It posits that multiple surface physical traces formed over the historical lifespan of a ceramic object can be understood as a temporal structure system. These traces, to a certain extent, record the material’s evolution across the temporal dimension. Within this framework, the ceramic surface can be viewed as a time-recording medium. Systematic observation of these structural features provides a novel pathway for ceramic age research. The aim of this paper is not to provide concrete authentication judgments, but to propose a structured observational framework that lays a conceptual foundation for future material research and image-based analysis.