Unpacking the Technology of Ceramic Building Materials: A Multi‑Method Approach to Craft Practice

Marta Lorenzon1* and Melis Uzdurum2

Fired bricks are a ubiquitous yet often understudied ceramic class worldwide. This paper presents an integrated, multi‑method analysis of fired bricks from the ancient city of Assur, Iraq. By combining ceramic petrography, portable X‑ray fluorescence (pXRF), X‑ray diffraction (XRD), and colourimeter analysis, the study investigates the technological choices made by ancient brickmakers. The results are compared with legacy datasets from Mohenjo‑daro and Harappa to highlight broader patterns in ceramic building‑material production. In Assur, fired bricks from Middle and Late Bronze Age and Iron Age contexts were analysed using a multi‑scalar approach. The results reveal significant variability: petrographic analysis identifies at least two main fabric groups, suggesting the exploitation of different alluvial clays or clay‑preparation methods, while XRD data indicate a wide range of firing temperatures. When compared with evidence from other sites, these findings challenge assumptions of a monolithic brick industry and instead point to the existence of multiple production workshops or adaptive practices shaped by material availability and intended architectural use. The proposed analytical framework, integrating compositional and mineralogical data, is directly transferable to the study of architectural ceramics and specialised wares in the Asia‑Pacific region, contributing to the session’s aim of developing comparative methodological frameworks and fostering cross‑regional dialogue.