‘Ubaid Plaster Technology at Dalma Island, Abu Dhabi emirate, United Arab Emirates

by Dr. Louise Joyner (Lecturer in Conservation Science, Cardiff School of History and Archaeology (HISAR), Cardiff University, U.K.)

Date: 2001 (updated by Dr Mark Beech, June 2004)

Summary report
Gallery
Contact details
Related web links

‘Ubaid period plaster vessel and construction material fragments from Dalma Island in the United Arab Emirates, have been analysed scientifically to identify the types of plaster used. The techniques used include optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis in the scanning electron microscope and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Three types of material were used for the vessels and construction materials: two are gypsum plasters, one with quartz aggregate, the other an impure gypsum mixed with calcareous clay and added limestone and quartz aggregate; the third type is lime-rich with limestone aggregate. Both gypsum and calcareous materials are locally available on Dalma Island. The plaster vessels were built up in layers, sometimes using different plaster recipes for the different layers. Some plaster vessels were decorated with black or pink pigments. Black decoration was applied to the exterior surfaces of some plaster vessels which appears to imitate the decorative patterns seen on ‘Ubaid pottery imported from Mesopotamia. The black pigment contains manganese and iron; it is uncertain if this pigment is locally available. A pink slip applied to the exterior surface of a few vessels was made from a mixture of finely ground hematite and gypsum, both of which are found locally on Dalma Island.

(N.B. This work was carried out when Dr Louise Joyner was formerly employed in the Department of Scientific Research at the British Museum. This department is now known as the Department of Conservation, Documentation and Science.).

Ubaid gypsum plaster vessel fragments painted with a black pigment containing iron and manganese from Dalma Island. The stripe and chevron patterns resemble the decorative schemes seen on Ubaid imported pottery from Southern Mesopotamia.
(click on image to view a larger higher resolution picture - 64 kb)

The X-ray diffraction generator fitted with Debye-Scherrer powder cameras that was used for the mineralogical analysis of the Ubaid plasters, in the Department of Scientific Research, The British Museum.
(click on image to view a larger higher resolution picture - 68 kb)

A Debye-Scherrer powder camera in which a sample of Ubaid plaster was analysed on the X-ray diffraction generator in the Department of Scientific Research, The British Museum
(click on image to view a larger higher resolution picture - 44 kb)

A tiny sample from one of the Dalma plaster vessel fragments is mounted at the end of a gelatine stick. Note the pin head to indicate the scale
(click on image to view a larger higher resolution picture - 31 kb)

Two X-ray diffraction patterns produced on photographic film using the Debye-Scherrer powder cameras on the X-ray diffraction generator. 
(click on image to view a larger higher resolution picture - 35 kb)

Contact Details:

Dr. Louise Joyner
Lecturer in Conservation Science
Cardiff School of History and Archaeology (HISAR)
Cardiff University
PO Box 909
Cardiff CF10 3XU
U.K.
Phone: +44 (0)29 2087 5157
Fax: +44 (0)29 2087 4929
Email: joynerl@Cardiff.ac.uk
Website: www.cardiff.ac.uk/hisar/people/archaeology/lj/

Related Links:


Archaeology

Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS) website: www.adias-uae.com
including the following pages:

Archaeology of Dalma island

ADIAS Occasional Newsletter - May 2004 (which includes details of the plaster vessel fragments discovered from the early 5th millennium BC site of MR11 on Marawah island)

Organisations

Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS) website: www.adias-uae.com

British Museum website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Department of Scientific Research (British Museum) website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/science

Scientific methods

optical microscopy:  http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/science/techniques/sr-tech-optical-mic.html

Scanning Electron Microscope: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/science/techniques/sr-tech-sem.html

X-Ray Diffraction:  http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/science/techniques/sr-tech-xrd.html

X-Ray Fluorescence:  http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/science/techniques/sr-tech-xrf.html

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