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Mineralogical and geochemical characterization of archaeological ceramics from the 16th century El Badi Palace, Morocco

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 September 2018

Mouhssin El Halim ,
Lahcen Daoudi ,
Meriam El Ouahabi ,
Valérie Rousseau ,
Catherine Cools  and
Nathalie Fagel
Mouhssin El Halim*
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Géosciences et Environnement (LGSE), Département de Géologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cadi Ayyad, BP 549 Marrakech, Morocco UR Argile, Géochimie et Environnement sédimentaires (AGEs), Département de Géologie, Université de Liège, Quartier Agora, Bâtiment B18, Allée du six Août, 14, Sart-Tilman, B-4000, Belgium
Lahcen Daoudi
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Géosciences et Environnement (LGSE), Département de Géologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cadi Ayyad, BP 549 Marrakech, Morocco
Meriam El Ouahabi
Affiliation:
UR Argile, Géochimie et Environnement sédimentaires (AGEs), Département de Géologie, Université de Liège, Quartier Agora, Bâtiment B18, Allée du six Août, 14, Sart-Tilman, B-4000, Belgium
Valérie Rousseau
Affiliation:
Ecole Supérieure des Arts, Saint Luc de Liège (ESA), Boulevard de la Constitution, 4020 Liège, Belgium
Catherine Cools
Affiliation:
Ecole Supérieure des Arts, Saint Luc de Liège (ESA), Boulevard de la Constitution, 4020 Liège, Belgium
Nathalie Fagel
Affiliation:
UR Argile, Géochimie et Environnement sédimentaires (AGEs), Département de Géologie, Université de Liège, Quartier Agora, Bâtiment B18, Allée du six Août, 14, Sart-Tilman, B-4000, Belgium
*
*E-mail: elhalim.mouhsin@gmail.com
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Abstract

Textural, mineralogical and chemical characterization of archaeological ceramics (zellige) from El Badi Palace (Marrakech, Morocco), the main Islamic monument from the Saadian period (sixteenth century), has been performed to enhance restoration and to determine the technology of manufacturing. A multi-analytical approach based on optical and scanning electron microscopy, cathodoluminescence, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction was used. Re-firing tests on ceramic supports were also performed to determine the firing temperatures used by the Saadian artisans. A calcareous clay raw material was used to manufacture these decorative ceramics. The sherds were fired at a maximum temperature of 800°C in oxidizing atmosphere. The low firing temperature for ‘zellige’ facilitates cutting of the pieces, but also causes fragility in these materials due to the absence of vitreous phases.

Keywords

‘zellige’technological propertiesmanufacturing processEl Badi PalaceMorocco
Type
Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 53 , Issue 3 , September 2018 , pp. 459 - 470
Copyright
Copyright © Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2018 

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Footnotes

Guest Associate Editor: Michele Dondi

This paper was originally presented during the session: ‘CZ-01 – Clays for ceramics’ of the International Clay Conference 2017.

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