Ref ID:	37804
Ref Type:	Journal Article
Authors:	Che-Hsien Tsai
Title:	The petrographic analysis of the ceramic assemblage at Hsiyunyen, Northern Taiwan
Date:	2025
Source:	Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
Place of Publication:	Taipei, Taiwan
Publisher:	Elsevier Ltd
DOI:	10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105441
Abstract:	The Hsiyunyen site is situated between extensively studied regions and the type sites of distinct cultural phases, making it a critical location for understanding past human activities and interactions in northern Taiwan. However, despite its relevance, it remains relatively understudied. In this paper, we focus on ceramic technology by examining materials associated with the Neolithic to Iron Age periods from the Hsiyunyen pottery assemblage. Fifty pottery sherds were analyzed using thin-section petrography, revealing diverse paste recipes and patterns of continuity and change in raw material selection and manipulation. This study also compares these samples with those from other sites in the region to investigate intersite connections. The variability of paste recipes at Hsiyunyen across different phases suggests distinct ceramic traditions and shifts in pottery technology. These findings may be closely linked to pottery production and exchange networks, and broader patterns of social change in prehistoric Taiwan.
Volume:	68