New data from chemical and technological analysis of pottery of the li people from Hainan island: problem of preserving pottery traditions

This article discusses pottery traditions ofthe Li people living on Hainan island in South China. The Li people were isolated in mountainous areas for a long time, which allowed them to preserve many ancient traditions until now. Potters from the village of Donghe in Dongfang County in the east ofthe island took part in this experimental study aimed at analyzing preservation of ancient pottery-making traditions in the modern world. It is the matter of principle for the participants not to use modern tools and containers in pottery production. They prefer to produce all necessary implements of a potter from bamboo, wood, and shells. The entire technological process of pottery manufacturing has remained unchanged for generations. As part of this study, all stages of pottery-making were carefully recorded. Eight samples of clay and ceramic fragments, both fired and unfired, were selected for chemical and technological analysis (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and XRF analysis), which made it possible to reconstruct the structure, mineral composition, and chemical properties of clay minerals, and identify the differences in the chemical composition of fabrics which, according to potters, are suitable or unsuitable for pottery. Kaolin clays, common in Hainan, are the most suitable for modeling by hands and do not require any additives, yet in some cases organic admixtures were detected. Chemical research has made it possible to establish the temperatures which were quite high forfiring in open fire. This indicates that sophisticated structure ofthe fire pit makes it possible to achieve reducing baking parameters for pottery in open fire as if the vessels were fired in a kiln. In addition, a connection between spraying ceramics afterfiring with the sap ofthe Huaying tree and popular beliefs of Hainan people has been established. The results of experiments can be correlated with archaeological evidence and will facilitate reconstructions of specific features of ancient pottery production.