Sample: SLO3

Monument: Slocene settlement
Location: Tukums Municipality, Lapmežciems parish, shore of River Slocene
Chronology: Middle Neolithic (3900-3000 BC)
Kind: Pottery sherd
Type: Comb ware
Publication: Haferberga (Visocka) et al. 2024
Description:
* Clay paste – coarse with various sized sand grains and silt, dense. Grains of ferric concretions are common (largest grain size – 0,6 mm). Mica (biotite) was also distinguished, size of the largest – 0,45 mm.
* Pores – elongated, thin and long (remains from mussel shells), few – oval or oval elongated (organics of unknown origin).
* Temper – crushed granite (dominant) + mussel shells (in some pores remains from mussel shells distinguished) + unknown organics:
- Largest sizes of the granite grain – 1,4 mm, max. avg. – 0,84 mm;
- Size of the largest mussel shell pore – 1,1 mm, max. avg. size – 0,65 mm;
- Largest oval elongated pore – 0,35 mm;
- Amount of temper in the clay paste – 7,31 %.
! Values are recalculated using more precise methodology and differs from ones in the publication.

Overview of the sample thin section. Total magnification in the microscope multiply 40: in eyepiece lens multiply 10, in objective lens multiply 4, crossed polarizers.

Overview of the sample thin section (created with smartphone on the panorama setting); Magnification – x40 (eye pieces x10, objective lens x4), crossed polarizers. Photo: V. Haferberga.

Overview of the sample thin section in plane polarized light.

Overview of the sample thin section in plain polarized light. Photo: V. Haferberga.

Grain of crushed granite in the clay paste. With letters following minerals are marked - Bio - biotite, Qtz - quartz, Plag - plagioclase, Ort - orthoclase. On the left thin section in crossed, on the right in plane polarized light. Magnification - multiply 40.

Grain of crushed granite in the clay paste. Minerals: Bio – biotite, Qtz – quartz, Ort – orthoclase, Plag – plagioclase. In crossed (A) and plain (B) polarized light. Magnification – x40 (eye pieces x10, objective lens x4). Photo: V. Haferberga.

Void of the mussel shell with remains in the clay paste. Figure on left in crossed, on the right in plane polarized light. Magnification - multiply 100.

Void of mussel shell with remains in the clay paste. Crossed (A) and plain (B) polarized light. Magnification – x100 (eye pieces x10, objective lens x10). Photo: V. Haferberga.