X-RAY DIFFRACTION STUDIES OF ANCIENT INDIAN GLAZED WARE

Northern Black Polished Ware is subject of enquiry in this paper. This is an important pottery
tradition of the Ganga Valley. This ware has a very high lustrous finish and shows variations in colour.
There are many problems related to its origin, distribution and technology of manufacturing. In this paper
an attempt has been made, using X-ray diffraction techniques, to address the problems related to its firing
technology. It is being proposed that NBPW production was distributed over a wider area of the Ganga
Valley and it was a specialized craft in ancient India. It has been found that due to special technique of
firing the clay minerals present on the outer surface of pottery underwent mineral transformation and
produced a lustrous glossy slip.