Archaeometric analysis of pottery

The aim of research presented in the article was to analyze the chemical and phase compositions of archaeological ceramic vessels. The studies used scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray microanalysis, an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and an X-ray diffractometer. Pieces of IX-XI century ceramic archaeological vessels of the Menkendorf-Szczecin type originating from sites in present Poland and German were the test material. The clay matrix and admixtures were subjected to studies and observations by using scanning electron microscopy, which allowed chemical analysis in micro-areas to be performed. Studies using the fluorescence spectrometer allowed us to analyze the chemical composition of powdered portions of the samples. The analysis of phase composition of the powdered samples was performed by X-ray diffraction. The SEM-EDS studies showed the presence of the most common inclusion in the form of quartz. The fluorescence spectrometry measurements showed that the content of Al 2 O 3 was similar and amounted to (18-19) wt% in all tested samples, indicating that the vessels have been manufactured from plastic clays. The XRF studies also showed the presence of a number of other oxides such as SiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , Na 2 O, K 2 O and CaO. The XRD studies confirmed the presence of SiO 2 (quartz), NaAlSi 3 O 8 (albite) and Al 2 O 3 (corundum) in all samples.

Il Museo Nazionale Preistorico Etnografico «Luigi Pigorini» di Roma conserva una cospicua raccolta di manufatti cretesi giunti al museo a seguito delle missioni archeologiche italiane condotte a Creta (siti di Festòs ed Haghia Triada) tra il 1900 ed il 1910 da Federico Halbherr e da Luigi Pernier. Tra i reperti si annovera un numero consistente di ceramiche integre e frammentarie ascrivibili allo stile di Kamares, diffusosi a Creta nel periodo Protopalaziale.
Tuttavia, poco ancora si conosce sulla natura e sulla composizione dei pigmenti utilizzati nelle decorazioni, anche se è ormai consolidato che le conoscenze della consistenza fisica e chimica dei pigmenti possono essere un utile supporto per l’inquadramento storico e archeologico dei reperti.
Questa breve trattazione si inserisce in tale ambito e concerne l’analisi preliminare tramite Spettroscopia Micro-Raman di due frammenti di ceramica Kamares conservati nel Museo Pigorini di Roma caratterizzati dalla presenza del pigmento arancione nel motivo decorativo. Questi studi saranno confrontati con quelli su due campioni della stessa produzione vascolare conservati nel Museo Archeologico di Firenze per i quali è già stata effettuata l’indagine archeometrica dei colori.

PANTELLERIAN WARE AND ITS CIRCULATION IN LATE ROMAN TIME
This research concerning the cooking pottery production in late roman time in the Island of Pantelleria, located in the Sicily Channel. This coarse ware consisted in pans, pots, casseroles and lids and large jars, useful to cook food and other raw materials as bitumen and pitch. This high refractoriness is given to the ceramic mixture by the vulcanic minerals peculiars form the clay of the island. The archaeological excavations conducted until now, discovered the ruins of a large settlement in the Scauri Bay placed in the S-W coast of the island, datable from the second half of the IV to the end of the V century. The village based its economical activity on the cooking pottery production and its export, as evidenced by the shipwreck in the harbor of Scauri. The pottery materials found in the site and in the shipwreck, come from reliable contexts and it has been helpful to a thorough tipological and chronological study of this local ware production. The analysis of the attestations in the Central and Western Mediterranean, through the bibliography and some unpublished datas from Sicily, led to create some circulation maps across the centuries. This has allowed me to make some considerations and conclusions. It has been possible to realize a diachronic study, to distinguish forms and types from the III cent. B.C. to the V cent. A.D.. The pottery had a wide circulation in the Mediterranean, mostly from the second half of the IV to the beginning of the VI century

Author: Ninina Cuomo di Caprio
Publication Date: October 31 2017
Publisher: L'ERMA di BRETSCHNEIDER
Series: Manuali L'ERMA, 2
ISBN: 978-88-913-1012-5 (Print)
ISBN: 978-88-913-1014-9 (E-Book)
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 700, 260 ill. B/N
Size: 21 x 28 cm
From the Foreword by prof. David P. Peacock, University of Southampton, UK
This manual on pottery-making in antiquity is a compendium of almost everything bearing on the interpretation of ancient ceramics in antiquity Because of this, it is likely to remain a standard work for many years to come. Both the student and the more experienced researcher will benefit from this book and will find it easy to follow because of the lively presentation. The whole subject of ceramics is here, from clay acquisition to kilns and firing, backed with an extensive bibliography. It is a work of reference which should have a place on every archaeologist' s bookshelf from their first day at University until retirement
Part Two is titled Modern Laboratory Techniques and provides a summary of the most widely used scientific techniques which can aid the archaeologist in the understanding and interpretation of ancient ceramics.
Cuomo di Caprio, Ninina - Essential Bibliography:
1972 Proposta di classificazione delle fornaci per ceramica e laterizi nell'  area italiana, in Sibrium 11, 1971-72, pp. 371-464
1982 Ceramica rustica tradizionale in Puglia, Galatina, Lecce 1982
1985 La ceramica in archeologia. Antiche tecniche di lavorazione e moderne tecniche di analisi, Rome 1985 (reprinted 1988)
1992 Fornaci e officine da vasaio tardo ellenistiche, Morgantina Studies, vol. III, Princeton, New Jersey 1992
1993 La galleria dei falsi. Dal vasaio al mercato di antiquariato, Rome 1993
2007 Ceramica in archeologia 2. Antiche tecniche di lavorazione e moderne tecniche di analisi, (enlarged and revised 1985 edition), Rome      2007.

L.A.I.S Luminescence Dating in Archaeology published as peer reviewed selective articles MAA 2010 Vol.10.4 (2010)
Free Downloaded from www.maajournal.com
Cite  excellent articles in luminescence dating!!!

CONTENTS

LUMINESCENCE DATING WORK FROM THE HEIDELBERG GROUP – A KEY TECHNOLOGY IN GEOARCHAEOLOGY

G. A. WAGNER, A. KADEREIT


A SURVEY OF SOME NEW APPROACHES IN EXTENDING THE MAXIMUM AGE LIMIT AND ACCURACY OF LUMINESCENCE APPLICATION TO ARCHAEOLOGICAL CHRONOMETRY

A.K. SINGHVI, N. CHAUHAN, R.H. BISWAS



THE CHIEMGAU METEORITE IMPACT AND TSUNAMI EVENT (SOUTHEAST GERMANY): FIRST OSL DATING

I. LIRITZIS , N. ZACHARIAS, G.S. POLYMERIS, G. KITIS, K. ERNSTSON,
D. SUDHAUS, A. NEUMAIR, W. MAYER, M.A. RAPPENGLÜCK,
B. RAPPENGLÜCK



LUMINESCENCE DATING OF PREHISTORIC SITE OF SMINTHEION
(GULPINAR) IN NW TURKEY

N.G. KIYAK, T. TAKAOĞLU, A.E. ERGINAL, H. OZCAN


ESTABLISHING A CHRONOLOGY FOR LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION AROUND A FINAL PALAEOLITHIC SITE AT ARENDONK - KORHAAN (NE BELGIUM): FIRST RESULTS FROM OPTICALLY STIMULATED LUMINESCENCE DATING

C. DERESE, D.A.G. VANDENBERGHE, M. VAN GILS, B. VANMONTFORT, E. MEIRSMAN, F. MEES, P. VAN DEN HAUTE


OPTIMISATION OF PREPARATION AND MEASUREMENT PROTOCOLS FOR LUMINESCENCE DATING OF SMALL SAMPLES FROM A SUITE OF PORCELAINS AND FAIENCES

C.I. BURBRIDGE, A.L. RODRIGUES, M.I. DIAS, M.I. PRUDENCIO, G. CARDOSO



TL AND OSL RESPONSE OF TURQUOISE FOR DOSIMETRIC APPLICATION

B. SUBEDI, D. AFOUXENIDIS, G.S. POLYMERIS, N. TSIRLIGNANIS,
K.M. PARASKEVOPOULOS, G. KITIS

THERMAL QUENCHING OF THERMOLUMINESCENCE IN QUARTZ SAMPLES OF VARIOUS ORIGINS

B. SUBEDI, D. AFOUXENIDIS, G.S. POLYMERIS,  K. BAKOGLIDIS,
S. RAPTIS, N. TSIRLIGANIS, G. KITIS


TOWARDS LUMINESCENCE DATING OF MOSAIC GLASS

A.GALLI, M. MARTINI, E. SIBILA, I. VILLA

PRELIMINARY TL AND OSL INVESTIGATION OF A NATURALLY AND ARTIFICIALLY IRRADIATED OBSIDIAN

G. S. POLYMERIS,  D. GOGOU , D. AFOUXENIDIS, S. RAPTI, 
N. C. TSIRLIGANIS,  G. KITIS


INVESTIGATION OF THE OSL SIGNAL FROM VERY DEEP TRAPS IN NATURAL QUARTZ

    G. KITIS, N.G. KIYAK, G.S. POLYMERIS, V. PAGONIS¬¬


THICK SOURCE ALPHA PARTICLE SPECTROSCOPY:
POSSIBILITIES AND PROSPECTS

C.T. MICHAEL, N. ZACHARIAS, A. HEIN



NEW DATA ON THE CATHODOLUMINESCENCE OF WHITE MARBLES: INTERPRETATION OF PEAKS AND RELATIONSHIPS TO WEATHERING

J. GARCIA-GUINEA, E. CRESPO-FEO, V. CORRECHER, A. IORDANIDIS, G. CHARALAMPIDES, G. KARAMITROU-MENTESSIDI


RETHINKING ABOUT CHRONOLOGY OF CHICHEN ITZA: BY THERMOLUMINESCENCE DATING OF VOLCANIC GLASS

H. CHUNG, P. GONZALEZ, A. RAMIREZ, P. SCHAAF, I. LEE


ANALYSIS OF ZAPOTEC CERAMICS OF THE CAXONOS RIVER BASIN, OAXACA, MEXICO BY THERMOLUMINESCENCE (TL)

A. RAMIREZ, P. SCHAAF, E. ORTIZ

EDITORIAL FORWARD BY THE GUEST EDITOR

L.A.I.S. (Luminescence in Archaeology International Symposia), a new international initiative that mainly focuses on the use of luminescence dating for materials and questions of archaeological significance, was formed in 2009 and in September 9-12 of that year, the 1st Symposium was realised at the European Cultural Centre of Delphi, Greece.
L.A.I.S. is managed by an ad hoc International Standing Committee: I. Bailiff (U.K.), M. Chithambo (S. Africa), J. Feathers (U.S.A.), Ι. Liritzis (President, Greece), M. Martini (Italy), A. Murray (Denmark), D. Richter (Germany), R. Roberts (Australia), S. Li (Hong Kong, China), A.K. Singhvi (India), G. Wagner (Germany), N. Zacharias (Greece). 1st L.A.I.S. was organised by the Greek scholars: G. Kitis, I. Liritzis, C.T.  Michael, G. Polymeris, N. Tsirliganis, A. Vafiadou and N. Zacharias.
During the 1st L.A.I.S. Symposium 34 papers were presented from 37 registered authors oriented from all continents. This special issue 10_4 of Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry contains 16 original papers presented during the Symposium and accepted after a standard peer review process of the Journal. 
The papers in the present volume concern review topics and new applications in geoarchaeology, chronological ranges of dating, dating of archaeological sites and artefacts, survey for new dosimetry and dating applications and authenticity testing of archaeological materials. 

Next L.A.I.S. will be hosted in Lisbon, Portugal in 2012.  New on L.A.I.S are uploaded at: http://kalamata.uop.gr/~lais2009/.

N. Zacharias,
President of the Organising Committee, Guest Editor

Questo volume, che raccoglie gli Atti del LII Convegno di Studi sulla Magna Grecia, svoltosi a Taranto dal 27 al 30 settembre 2012, è pubblicato dall'Istituto per la Storia e l'Archeologia della Magna Grecia, con il contributo della Fondazione Taranto e la Magna Grecia e del Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali -DGBID. La cura scientifica del volume è di Aldo Siciliano e Katia Mannino. La redazione è stata curata da Maria Margherita Manco e dalla MUSEION Soc. Coop. Tutte le immagini presenti in questo volume sono consultabili, a colori, seguendo il link alla pagina: <www.isamg.it/ pubblicazioniatticonvegno.html>. produzione e circolazione Mediterranea delle ceraMiche della caMpania nel iii secolo a.c. alcuni dati della ricerca archeologica e archeoMetrica Gloria Olcese

An important Bronze Age settlement was discovered during an archaeological excavation in the Monte Meana karst cave in southwestern Sardinia (Italy) between 2007 and 2012. In this region, the caves were used since the Neolithic for different purposes, such as burials or other rituals. The dig highlighted a rare example of domestic use of a cave and showed a case study of household space of the Early-Middle Bronze Age, at the beginning of the Nuragic civilization. This provided the opportunity to investigate through a multidisciplinary approach, the empirical knowledge of ancient potters and technological characters of local pottery production especially in relation to domestic use, in a context at that time devoid of external cultural interferences. For this purpose, a selection of 24 pottery sherds related to vessel forms for cooking, storage, and eating were studied through macroscopic surveys and archaeometric analysis by petrography, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed some discriminant variables (shape, wall thickness, features of the paste, surface smoothing, presence of diagnostic mineralogical phases, and tempers), within the ceramic products of this Sardinian Bronze Age site, showing skillful management of firing temperatures.

Main language: PT. Pattern-burnished pottery has been found in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, in archaeological contexts of the Late Bronze Age (LBA) / Early Iron Age (EIA). Although it was previously considered a “chronological marker” of the LBA, studies have shown that it appears through a wider chronology than previously thought and it is clearly present in the EIA. Similar handmade vessels also show up, though very residually, in contexts of the II Iron Age (6th century BC). Another variant, wheel thrown, has been related to hybridization phenomena resulting from Phoenician relations. 
Decorating by burnishing is a technique older than the Late Bronze Age. One of its technical variants, the lightly grooved burnished variant, has been known since the Chalcolithic, when it is associated to channelled pottery. In the Portuguese territory, at least during the LBA, grooved burnishing and stroke burnishing variants coexist, although different regions show preference to one or to the other technique. 
The interpretation of this group of LBA/ EIA pottery, particularly of the highly decorated stroke burnished variant, has been linked to the development of social inequalities and attributed either to the “elites” or to “special” and ritualistic contexts or purposes. It has also been argued that, alongside other pottery categories, it may represent part of the material culture that characterized the communities of the mythical kingdom of Tartessos. 
The following text discusses the significance of the category “pattern-burnished pottery” through an interdisciplinary approach. This approach was put together in order to understand its technical and morphological aspects, mainly evaluated through the methodological concept of chaine operátoire of production. Therefore, both human and material constraints that may be implied in pottery production as a whole at that time have to be considered. This feature and the wide territorial distribution of this pottery require the combination of broader and narrower focuses. 
The text comprises an analysis and synthesis of previously published examples from the Portuguese territory, followed by the proposal of their stylistic distinction. However, the material analysis of the “chaines operátoires” focuses on seven case studies from Portuguese and Spanish regions: Moreirinha (Idanha-a-Nova, Castelo Branco), Castelo de Arraiolos (Arraiolos, Évora), Los Concejiles (Lobón, Badajoz); Castillo de Alange (Alange, Badajoz), Castro de Ratinhos (Moura, Beja), Outeiro do Circo (Mombeja, Beja) and Cidade das Rosas 4 (Serpa, Beja).
Considering the study of pottery examples of the seven case studies, the methodology comprises a combination of macroscopic and archaeometric analysis. The archaeometric approach is based on mineralogical and textural analysis of pottery fabrics, combining thin section analysis by optical microscopy with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition to those analyses, a study of soils collected at the vicinity of some sites was also conducted. This study consisted in XRD analysis of oriented powders and, in fewer cases, complemented by high-temperature XRD and termogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC) analysis. The production processes inferred from archaeological, macroscopic and archaeometric studies where then correlated to ethnographic information and tested experimentally in particular aspects. 
The outcome of the combined approaches results in the proposal of production models (chaines opératoires) for the seven sites and their comparison. Another important aspect is the discussion and methodological proposal of some archaeological elements that can be registered and evaluated in this type of studies. Finally the text concludes with an evaluation of the category “pattern-burnished pottery” and with its interpretation in the context of LBA/EIA communities in the Iberian Peninsula.
 
Keywords: Pattern-burnished pottery; Late Bronze Age/ Early Iron Age; chaine opératoire; typology; archaeometry; experimental archaeology

As part of the Topical Collection on the archaeometric study of ceramics, this paper focuses on terra sigillata ware. The main aims are to provide a review on the state of the art of the studies and to provide a guide to the most suitable analytical techniques. The text is divided into four main parts: (1) a brief archaeological introduction on the ancient production of terra sigillata; (2) a summary of the archaeometric studies carried out to date; (3) a reasoned list of the most suitable techniques for the investigation of the ceramic body and (4) an in-depth discussion on the most effective techniques for the study of the coating. The application of both destructive and non-destructive techniques is critically evaluated as well as the advantages and disadvantages provided by the different instrumentation, in terms of sample preparations and expected results.

Augusta Vindelicum/Augsburg offers a significant assemblage of
African Red Slip Ware, cooking ware and lamps from the late 1st to the first half of the 5th century AD. This paper concentrates on the
range and origin of North African pottery from Augsburg as
well as on chemical analyses with wavelength-dispersive
X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF). Distribution
patterns of African Red Slip Ware in Raetia will also be discussed.

"""Die Methode der Röntgenfluoreszenzanalyse (RFA) wird schon seit vielen Jahren für archäometrische Untersuchungen von Keramik eingesetzt. Der technische Fortschritt der letzten Jahre und vor allem die fortschreitende Miniaturisierung technischer Komponenten führten zur Entwicklung von portablen Handspektrometern (p-RFA). Die Anwendung dieser Geräte für die Analyse von Keramik erfordert eine kritische Auseinandersetzung mit ihren Möglichkeiten und Grenzen. Gezielt durchgeführte Teststudien und konkrete Anwendungen erlauben es, sowohl die Grundlagen als auch das Potenzial der Geräte genauer darzulegen. Dabei sind neben den gerätebedingten Parametern auch die materialkundlichen und geochemischen Besonderheiten der Artefakte für den erfolgreichen Einsatz der mobilen Handspektrometer zu berücksichtigten. So kann damit nicht jede Art von Keramik untersucht und auch nicht jede Fragestellung zufriedenstellend beantwortet werden. Ein möglicher Einsatz hängt von der Zusammensetzung der Keramik und vor allem der zugegebenen Magerung ab. Aufgrund der geringeren Präzision und Genauigkeit der Messwerte der p-RFA sollten diese immer mittels präziserer Labormethoden überprüft werden.

X-ray fluorescence analysis is a widely used technique for the analysis of pottery. The technological progress in the last years and especially the miniaturization of technical components led to the development of portable handheld XRF-spectrometers (p-XRF). The use of these spectrometers for the analysis of pottery must be critically examined in regard to its possibilities and limitations. Systematically conducted test studies and practical applications explain in more detail both the basics and the potential of the device. In addition to the device-related parameters, the samples and the geochemical peculiarities of the samples must also be considered for the successful use of a mobile hand-held spectrometer. How ever, the device is not suitable for every kind of ceramic or research problem. An appropriate use depends on the composition of the pottery and especially the addition of temper. Because of their lower precision and accuracy, the p-XRF results should be always verified by"""

The influence of tempering on the mechanical performance of pottery is assessed. Emphasis is placed on the examination of the impact of temper shape (low vs. high sphericity) and extent of vitrification on the strength and toughness of the ceramic material. Measurements on experimental briquettes show that the replacement of platy phyllitic temper with bulky granitic temper results in a reduction in strength but, at least at very high firing temperatures, in an increase in toughness. The observed differences in strength reduction with different temper shapes is semi-quantitatively assessed by adapting the damaged zone model, developed previously to disk-shaped particles. The effect of temper shape on toughness is particularly pronounced at high firing temperatures, where platy temper results in significantly lower fracture toughness of the corresponding material.

Der erste Teil befasst sich überwiegend mit der ostgriechischen Keramik aus Naukratis.
Es war eines unserer wesentlichen Anliegen, bislang weniger berücksichtigte Fundgruppen, die in einer überraschend großen Anzahl in den Depots verschiedener Museen aufbewahrt werden oder auf anderem Weg wieder erschlossen werden konnten, in unsere Untersuchungen mit einzubeziehen. So wurden im ersten Teil an ausgewählten Gattungen gezielte Fragestellungen untersucht, die Aufschlüsse zur Entstehungszeit und zur Entwicklung von Naukratis oder zur Beteiligung einzelner poleis an diesem wichtigsten Handelsplatz in Ägypten versprachen. In diesem Zusammenhang galt es, die Klassifizierung und Bestimmung des Produktionsortes der Keramik zu überprüfen, nicht zuletzt auch deshalb, weil eine vereinzelte Information über eine lokale Produktion in Naukratis vorlag. Mit finanzieller Hilfe der DFG gelang es, dass H. Mommsen, Bonn, in größerem Umfang archäometrische Untersuchungen an ausgewähltem keramischem Material aus Ägypten in westlichen Sammlungen durchführen konnte. Diese neu geschaffene Basis verleiht den hier getroffenen Aussagen, aber auch künftigen Studien, eine verlässlichere Grundlage als dies bisher der Fall sein konnte. Es zeigt sich nun deutlicher, wie groß der Anteil der Keramik aus verschiedenen ostgriechischen Produktionsorten im Gastland Ägypten ist und – soweit es Teil 2 betrifft – in welchem Maße das ägyptische Ambiente die Verwendung und somit auch die Formen der importierten Gefäße bestimmt. Zudem lässt sich eine lokale griechische Produktion (sicherlich in Naukratis), wenn auch in bescheidenem Ausmaß, über einen längeren Zeitraum hinweg belegen.
Vor diesem Hintergrund wird versucht, mögliche Auswirkungen des Kontaktes der Griechen mit Ägypten auf das Fundgut von Naukratis aber auch von anderen ägyptischen Fundorten aufzuspüren, wie z. B. Gründung einer lokalen Werkstatt in Ägypten, ägyptisierende Thematik einiger Darstellungen oder Angleichung und Übernahme von ägyptischen Gefäßformen an bzw. in das griechische Repertoire.

Οι πρώτες αναλύσεις με την μέθοδο των «λεπτών τομών» (“thin sections”), και της portable X-ray fluorescence analysis (pXRF) στα οκτώ δείγματα που περιελήφθησαν στο πρόγραμμα του 2017-2018, και καλύπτουν ένα μεγάλο φάσμα μεταξύ λεπτοφυών, ημιλεπτοφυών και χονδροειδών κεραμικών, δείχνουν στην κατεύθυνση ενός πλήθους διαφορετικών τιμών, εντός του πλαισίου μιας ευρύτερης κοινής προέλευσης, που σχετίζεται με το γεωλογικό προφίλ της περιοχής της έρευνας.
Δεν είναι δυνατόν να αποδώσουμε τα δείγματά μας σε ένα κοινό
κεραμικό εργαστήριο, αλλά ούτε και σε μία κοινή πηγή πηλού. Εντούτοις, δεν μπορούμε επίσης να αποκλείσουμε την υπόθεση ότι τα δείγματά μας ανήκουν σε προϊόντα μιας κοινής κεραμικής βιοτεχνίας που υιοθέτησε ένα «μοντέλλο με πολλούς κλάδους», στο οποίο περιελήφθησαν διαφορετικοί κεραμείς, οι οποίοι θα εργάσθηκαν σε γειτονία, παράγοντας διαφορετικούς τύπους λεπτοφυούς και χονδροειδούς κεραμικής.
Ηφαιστειογενής είναι η προέλευση των πηγών πηλού για όλα, σχεδόν,
τα δείγματά μας. Είναι σημαντικό να παρατηρήσουμε ότι ο παραπάνω
κανόνας ισχύει και για τα πλέον λεπτά κεραμικά από τα οποία
ελήφθησαν δείγματα. Η θεωρία, λοιπόν, της χρήσης της τοπικής
λεπτοφυούς κεραμικής ως συνοδού φορτίου των μηλιακών ορυκτών και του μηλιακού οίνου, που προορίζονταν για τις αγορές της Δύσης, μπορεί να θεωρηθεί ως ευρισκόμενη εν ισχύ, για μελλοντική αξιολόγηση.
Το ηφαιστειακό έγκλεισμα του δείγματος #1 και τα χαλαζιακά
εγκλείσματα των δειγμάτων #4, #52 , #53 , #6, η παρουσία αλουνίτη, θείου και μαγγανίου στα δείγματα #2, #3, αλλά και η παρουσία αλουμινίου, καλίου και θείου στο δείγμα #8, αποτελούν ενθαρρυντικές ενδείξεις για την μηλιακή προέλευση του υλικού μας.
Άς σημειωθεί ότι χαλαζίες και άστριοι χαρακτηρίζουν την σύσταση των χονδροειδών αγγείων για καθημερινή χρήση από τις ανασκαφές μας.
Επιπλέον, τα εγκλείσματα ασβεστίου του δείγματος #6 και το μαγγάνιο του δείγματος #2 δεν είναι χωρίς παράλληλα στα πορίσματα των παλαιότερων αναλύσεων περιεχομένου: Αφού, τόσο στην περίπτωση των δειγμάτων αγγείων, όσο και στην περίπτωση των δειγμάτων περιεχομένου, έχουμε να κάνουμε με πηλούς, η συνολική εικόνα δεν είναι παράταιρη.
Θα πρέπει να περιμένουμε για την επόμενη φάση των αναλύσεων / πορισμάτων, ώστε να επανασχεδιάσουμε την μελλοντική μας έρευνα σχετικώς με την παραγωγή των κεραμικών εργαστηρίων στην Μήλο των Ρωμαϊκών χρόνων.
The first thin section / portable X-ray fluorescence analysis (pXRF)
analyses of fine wares in the 2017-2018 project points towards a
plethora of minor differences amongst fine, semi-fine and coarse
material analysed. We definitely cannot attribute our speciments
to a common workshop, nor to a common clay source. Yet, neither
can we exclude the hypothesis that these are actually products of
a pottery industry that adopted a multi-branch model, that
included different potters working in vicinity, producing different
types of fine and coarse ceramic products.
A volcanic origin is possible for almost all of the newly analysed
speciments. What is really promising, is that, the above rule, can
be applied even to the the “finest” of our fine ware speciments. So,
our theory concerning the use of that type of pottery as spacefillers for ship cargos trading melian wine and alumen is still valid
and can stay on the table for future evaluation.
The volcanic inclusion of #1 and the quartz inclusions of #4, #52 ,
#53 , #6, the presence of alunite, sulfur and manganese in #2, #3, as
well as the aluminium, potassium and sulphur of #8, are certainly
encouraging indication of a Melian origin for the samples under
evaluation. Note that quartz and asrtii were typical finds amongst
melian kitchenware samples. More than that, calcite inclusions of
#6 and the manganese content of #2 clay, remind us of the
previous pot sediment (contents) results. Since in both cases
(containers and contents) we are dealing with clays, this is not
something out of place, on the contrary it is rather encouraging.
We will have to wait until the final analyses show us more, and
then we could probably re-schedule our future work on melian
fine and semi-fine roman pottery production.

The article deals with the issue of the Oder-zone painted pottery and encrusted pottery in Poland. A short review of theories and issues studies until today is presented and some new results by scientific approaches are obtained. Using new technologies on finds from past excavations and new sources provide verification and an extension of the current state of knowledge about past communities. Re-examining the painted and encrusted pottery from a broader perspective allows the introduction of completely new issues and the verification of views that exist in the scientific community.

Der Beitrag befasst sich mit der verzierten und inkrustierten Keramik im polnischen Odergebiet. Es wird ein kurzer Überblick über die bisherigen relevanten Theorien und Untersuchungen sowie über einige neuere Ergebnisse aus wissenschaftlichen Ansätzen gegeben. Die Anwendung neuer Analyseverfahren an Altfunden und die Untersuchung neuer Quellen bestätigen und erweitern den aktuellen Wissensstand über vergangene Gesellschaften. Die erneute Untersuchung der bemalten und inkrustierten Keramik unter einem weiteren Blickwinkel ermöglicht völlig neue Fragestel- lungen und die Verifikation bestehender Theorien in der Wissenschaft.

The Grosseto plain has undergone extensive morphological changes. The shoreline progression has been taking place during the last millennium and has deeply affected settlement, infrastructural, and socioeconomic dynamics. Consequently, this study aims to (a) localize the raw materials exploited during the Roman period for building materials production, (b) reconstruct the production technology, and (c) provide a meaningful reconstruction of the commercial dynamics between local “municipal” productions and “urban” imports. The chemical, mineralogical, and petrographic investigations performed on 34 stamped bricks from the Roman territories of Vetulonia, Rusellae, Heba (Aia Nova), and Saturnia supported the following major achievements: (a) Most of the Rusellan producers used the continental deposits outcropping along the Ombrone River while a few of them exploited the coastal or marine deposits. Aia Nova and Saturnia producers used the Zanclean marine deposits. (b) Brick‐making technology involved very little or no preparation of the paste and firing temperatures ranging between ~650°C and 900°C. Calcite temper was found in Rusellan bricks while decantation was hypothesized for Saturnia bricks only. (c) Commercial dynamics changed abruptly after the mid 1st century AD when local productions, run by local aristocracies, started declining in favour of urban imports, until being completely supplanted during the Trajan age.

Gedruckt mit der Unterstützung des Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung Umschlagabbildung: Plan, Basilika am Staatsmarkt (Tafel 71) Umschlaggestaltung: Hannes Weinberger, ÖAW Die verwendete Papiersorte ist aus chlorfrei gebleichtem Zellstoff hergestellt, frei von säurebildenden Bestandteilen und alterungsbeständig.

This paper documents a comprehensive study of thirty-two stamped bricks found in territory of the ancient town of Cosa (Ansedonia, Grosseto). The geographical distribution of these materials distinguished ‘municipal’ productions, i.e. those found within the territory of Cosa (ager cosanus) only, and ‘urban’ productions, i.e. those found in the ager cosanus, as well as in the territory comprising Rome and its suburbs and/or the entire Tiber Valley. Main aim of the study was to verify the provenance of ‘municipal’ productions, by a combination of archaeological, epigraphical, prosopographical and archaeometrical (OM, SEM–EDS, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, INAA) research instruments and techniques. Data integration revealed that six ‘municipal’ productions (over a total of nine) were produced in the territory surrounding the Cosa's promontory, using marine and fluvial clayey deposits. Conversely, three ‘municipal’ productions were assigned to the ‘urban’ area, and possibly assigned to the Tiber Valley. An important distinction was made among the ‘urban’ productions, proving the feasibility of their discrimination

This paper presents the somewhat unexpected findings of a preliminary archaeometric study of 'painted' early Neolithic pottery from the site of Dzhulyunitsa, north central Bulgaria. While there is still no consensus on the actual model of Neolithisation of this region, expectations are that there would have been a transfer of pottery technology and possible small quantities of painted pottery from the West Anatolian homeland to early Neolithic sites in Bulgaria. However, our findings confound these expectations. Pottery from the earliest levels of the site are all based on local materials: there are no imported wares. There is no evidence of the experimental phase that would be expected as migrant potters learned to adjust to local clays. Instead the pottery is of a very high quality from the outset, using naturally fine clays that do not require temper: though organic material is sometimes added, albeit often in non-functional quantities. What were thought to be dark-painted layers are shown to be simply the high-quality burnishes that can be developed using these micaceous local clays: in some cases with outer surfaces enhanced with ochre. White-slipped and white-on red decorated sherds from the second layer of the site continue to showcase a mastery of local materials, with white pigments base on nearby limestones and marls. But here, petrographic analysis identifies some white-painted wares which are clearly not local, with both bodies and paint compositions pointing to a different provenance and technology. As it continues, this project aims to establish the full range of Dzhulyunitsa pottery fabrics to reconstruct manufacturing technologies and raw material sourcing patterns, for comparison with contemporary sites across the region.

The application of archaeometric methods on ancient potteries is nowadays a well-established approach in archaeological science. Ceramics are, in fact, made by natural geological materials, so that a proper characterization cannot exclude the contribute of geosciences disciplines. In particular, in the case of archaeological ceramics, minero-petrgographic and

We present details of the work carried out within the framework of a research project funded by the Regional Government of Galicia, Spain, titled "Pb and Sr Isotopes in archaeological pottery from Galicia: a provenance study of the raw materials and their access," in order to define the methodology and working protocols required in order to be able to manage archaeological, archaeometric and geological information from the MAGNA50 geological map of Spain as a part of a Geographical Information System. The aim of this study is to define in a faster, more direct and reliable way the sources of the potential raw materials used for ancient pottery recovered from archaeological sites in Galicia. Due to a lack of archaeological research in this field in the region, the working process was complex. Its results are of great benefit and use to archaeometry, the thematic framework for this work. We discuss the potential of this study in relation to future research projects.

In Sudan the first ceramic containers appeared at the beginning of the 9th millennium BC, with the earliest dates c. 8700 BC from Sorourab 2, in Central Sudan, and c. 8600 BC from the district of Amara West, in Northern Sudan.
This book presents a comprehensive critical analysis of diverse ceramic assemblages from Sai Island, in the Middle Nile Valley of Northern Sudan, on the border between ancient Upper and Lower Nubia. The assemblages included in this study cover about five millennia, spanning the period c. 8000 to c. 2500 BC. They go from the initial appearance of ceramic technology within hunting-fishing-gathering communities living in permanent or semi-permanent settlements (locally named ‘Khartoum Variant’ or ‘Mesolithic’ horizon: c. 7600–4800 BC), through the ceramic productions of the first ‘Neolithic’ pastoral societies (Abkan horizon: c. 5550−3700 BC), to those of the Pre-Kerma Nubian culture (c. 3600−2500 BC).
A thorough stylistic macroscopic observation of the finds is integrated with a solid technological approach by means of archaeometric petrographic (OM), mineralogical (XRPD) and chemical (XRF) analyses. Data are discussed and compared across a broad geographical area, including Lower and Upper Nubia, Central Sudan and the Egyptian Western Desert. They provide an original synthesis and interpretation of the ceramic traditions in Nubia and Sudan and propose a critical review of the debate on the invention of pottery and the functional and cultural reasons for the emergence of the ceramic technology.

This paper presents issues related to the X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), or the so-called X-ray spectrometry, applied to the study of Late Medieval ceramic found at archaeological sites located in Solec-on-the-Vistula-River (Solec nad Wisłą).
At the beginning I will explain terminology used in the title and give details about the origin of the analysed pottery. Then I will present selected results of the XRF analysis and my reflections on application of this method to pottery research.
KEY WORDS: pottery, white earthenware, laboratory analyses

One of the analytical difficulties that may appear in the analytical process of the archaeological materials is related to the complexity of matrices. In this sense, the abundant content of lipids in archaeological degraded material makes the analysis of polyphenols much more problematic. In addition, phenolic compounds with a low-molecular weight might be present at trace level or even not be present in ancient artefacts. In this study, the advantages of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode (GC–MS-SIM) for the analysis of wine biomarkers, tartaric and cinnamic acids, preserved in archaeological potsherd found in a votive deposit from the Iberian period in Granada (Spain) are presented. This will contribute to a greater understanding of the consumption of fermented beverages offered in votive rituals in Southern Spain during the Iberian period. To our knowledge, this is the first time that GC–MS-SIM technique is used to identify low concentrations of these polyphenolic acids in archaeological residues. In addition, the GC–MS-SCAN and gas chromatography– combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC–C–IRMS) analysis revealed the presence of animal fats and vegetable oils mixed with wax and conifer resin preserved in the Iberian glasses. The correlation between organic compounds identified in the residues (short and odd-chain fatty acids (C9:0 to C12:0, C17:0 and C19:0), palmitic, stearic, azelaic, oleic, lignoceric and dehydroabietic acids and long-chain odd-numbered alkanes) and its possible origin are also discussed.