Vinca Symbols

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   I don't know about that Med. But after re reading this, I do know that Benzin is wrong.  First off, the Ceramic terminology for firing isn't baked or cooked, it's "Fired".  Also it's a Kiln, not an oven. 

If the tablets were indeed unfired or raw clay, I very much doubt they would have survived the years.  It's more likely that they were fired at a very low temp, for a short time.  The extreme age and exposure to ground moisture would have destabilized the clay surface.  

Restorers now have other options, but firing in an electric kiln was, and still is, an accepted technique to stabilize clay artifacts.  An electric kiln does not introduce fuel to the kiln atmosphere, so there isn't contamination from outside carbon sources .  It also does not interfere with dating, as dating is best done on the strata the artifact was found in.  Dating a clay artifact from the artifact itself is difficult at best, as you would be looking for inbedded charcoal, to give a C14 date, and might destroy the object you wished to date.

If it's the symbols that are in question, any ceramic chemist could tell if the symbols were added recently, fired or unfired.

A note-
It takes a special personality to be a professional ceramic restorer, something like that of a diamond cutter.  If you screw up, there isn't anything like being able to order up a replacement from E bay. 
It takes absolute confidence in your knowledge and your craft. And above average testicular stature.

Edited by red clay - 27-Nov-2013 at 12:18