Correlative microscopy for analysing archaeological samples – case study of blue glazed vessel attributed to Chai Kiln 950-1000 A.D.

Chai Kiln, founded by Chai Rong in the 10th century was known for the high quality of its products. The exact location of the kiln and source of the used raw materials remains an open question. The high quality and fame of the kiln encouraged copying of the style and use of the Chai-label during the later periods adding further compli-cation for answering these open questions.
This work seeks to establish a correlative microscopy workflow for analysing archaeological ceramics. The long-term objective is to find efficient ways to identify the geo-logical origin and sources of the used raw materials which may also offer insight on the location of the kiln. The sample used for the procedure is a blue monochrome leaf-shaped bowl attributed to the Chai kiln柴窑.