Sample: SLO1

Monument: Slocene settlement
Location: Tukums Municipality, Lapmežciems parish, shore of River Slocene
Chronology: Middle Neolithic (3900-3000 BC)
Kind: Pottery sherd
Type: Sārnate type
Publication: Haferberga (Visocka) et al. 2024
Description:
* Clay paste – coarse with various sized sand grains, dense. Few grains of granite, likely natural (largest – 1,1 mm). Rich in ferric concretions (largest grain – 0,45 mm).
* Pores: majority – uneven elongated, few – oval or oval elongated (identified as remains from mussel shells and organics of unknown origin).
* Temper – crushed mussel shells (pores) + unknown organics (round and oval elongated pores):
- Size of the largest pore of mussel shell – 2,4 mm, max avg. size – 1,38 mm;
- Largest oval elongated pore – 0,6 mm
- Amount of temper in the clay paste – 11,15%
! 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. 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.

Ferric concretion in the clay paste. On the left in crossed polarized light, on the right in plain polarized light. Magnification – multiply 100.

Ferric concretion in the clay paste, crossed (A) and plain (B) polarized light; Magnification – x100 (eye pieces x10, objective lens x10). Photo: V. Haferberga.

Oval elongated pore in the clay paste. Picture on the left in crossed polarized light and on the left in plain polarized light. Magnification – multiply 100.

Oval elongated pore in the clay paste, crossed (A) and plain (B) polarized light; Magnification – x100 (eye pieces x10, objective lens x10). Photo: V. Haferberga.