CAMPANIAN POTTERY FROM ANCIENT BRUTTIUM (SOUTHERN ITALY): SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF LOCAL AND IMPORTED PRODUCTS*

One hundred and fifty-seven sherds of Campanian pottery were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and flame emission spectroscopy (FES). The sherds were found in the course of archaeological excavations carried out at the sites of Sibari, Cosenza, Crotone, Locri, Reggio and Oppido Mamertina in southern Italy (ancient Bruttium, today Calabria). Analyses were carried out on dissolved samples, determining 15 elements per sample (Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Ti, Mn, Sr, Ba, Cr, Cu, Y, La and Sc by ICP-OES, and Na and K by FES). Analytical data were subject to multivariate statistical treatment by hierarchical cluster analysis and principal components analysis. Results indicated different compositional groups, allowing one to separate suspected imports from Campania, Etruria and Sicily from each other and from likely local products. The latter could be further classified into different groups, comprising imitations of foreign forms as well as original local products.     

MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF THE ENERGY DISPERSIVE X-RAY FLUORESCENCE RESULTS FROM BLUE AND WHITE CHINESE PORCELAINS*

The energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique was employed to study non-destructively the surface of 66 samples of Chinese porcelain, of different periods and origins, and determine the contents of 13 chemical elements, namely, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Pb, Rb, Sr, Y and Zr. Principal components analysis was performed on these 13 variables, and scatter plots, incorporating the first, second and third principal components, used to study the clustering behaviour of the data. Based on these results, discriminant analysis was then performed on the data, and discriminant functions established for attributing the period and origin of the porcelains.     

ANALYTICAL INVESTIGATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL POWDERS FROM GÖLTEPE (TURKEY)*

Nine powder samples originating from the archaeometallurgical she in Göltepe, southern central Turkey, have been analysed. Bulk analyses, using X-ray fluorescence and X-ruy photoelectron spectroscopy, and single particle analyses, using electron probe X-ray microanalysis, were carried out. The analyses were focused on determining the inorganic elemental composition of the samples and the distribution of particle types in the nine powder samples. In addition, the powder samples were classified on the basis of their elemental composition using multivariate techniques. The objective of this study was to characterize the powder samples and to establish an association with archaeological data from the site     

Quantification of Fracture Propagation Velocity Employing a Sample of Clovis Channel Flakes

Velocity-dependant lithic fracture surface features are employed to determine precursory loading rate. The methodology is applied to a sample of Clovis channel-flake scars revealing that some Clovis points were fluted using pressure-flaking techniques.     

FURTHER STUDIES IN THE COMPOSITIONAL VARIABILITY OF COLOURLESS ROMANO‐BRITISH VESSEL GLASS*

Previous studies of colourless Romano‐British vessel glasses have suggested that, regardless of vessel type, they show considerable compositional homogeneity. Intriguing differences in variability (as opposed to mean composition) have, however, also emerged. This paper reports on a compositional study of 243 vessels, that is larger and more carefully controlled than in previous studies of this kind. Unexpected compositional differences have been found both between and within the four vessel types studied. We discuss the implications of these results in the context of different models that have been proposed for glass‐making and glass‐working in the Roman world.     

EVALUATION OF BINDER/AGGREGATE RATIOS IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL LIME MORTARS WITH CARBONATE AGGREGATE: A COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF CHEMICAL,MECHANICAL AND MICROSCOPIC APPROACHES*

This paper reports on the comparative evaluation of traditional and innovative methods for the investigation of mortar technology. Preliminary results of various approaches to determining the mix proportions in lime mortars with carbonate aggregate are presented. Quantitative analysis was tested on ad hoc prepared mortars of known composition containing carbonate aggregates of different origin (travertine and Bath limestone). Wet chemical methods, manual disaggregation and Digital Image Analysis of thin sections and cross‐sections stained with Alizarin Red S were tested. The advantages and drawbacks of the different approaches are discussed, and applications to the analysis of archaeological mortars and plasters are highlighted.     

HUMAN MOBILITY AT THE EARLY NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT OF VAIHINGEN,GERMANY: EVIDENCE FROM STRONTIUM ISOTOPE ANALYSIS*

As evidence concerning human mobility during the transition to agriculture in central Europe, we present the results of strontium isotope analysis of human skeletons from the Neolithic village of Vaihingen, Germany. We find significantly more ‘non‐local’⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values from humans buried in a Neolithic ditch surrounding Vaihingen than from those buried within the settlement. These results fit with previous studies showing a correlation between burial circumstances and strontium isotope signatures from LBK cemeteries of southwestern Germany ( Price et al. 2001 ; Bentley et al. 2002 ). A pilot study of Neolithic animal teeth from Vaihingen suggests that either ‘local’⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr signatures were more variable than the analysed human bones suggest, or that these domestic animals themselves were mobile, perhaps ranged by mobile pastoralists.     

Neutron Activation Analyses of ‘Falke‐Group’ Stoneware*

Fragments of late medieval highly decorated Falke‐group stoneware have been found in excavations all over central and northern Europe. The distribution of the finds points to an origin in Saxony, but the exact centre of production is still unknown. Therefore, a set of samples has been analysed with Neutron Activation and the data compared with Saxon reference groups. The results point to production in a single workshop. The data can be clearly distinguished from all reference groups in our databank. However, the most similar group is that of Zittau, Saxony. Also, one sherd, which is typologically very similar to the Falke group, and which was made in Zittau, suggests that production was based there.     

Technology Transfer at the Periphery of the Mycenaean World: The Cases of Mycenaean Pottery Found in Central Macedonia (Greece) and the Plain of Sybaris (Italy)*

The study of technology transfer in pottery production to the periphery of the Mycenaean world has been addressed by considering two different areas, southern Italy and central Macedonia. Technological features such as ceramic paste, decoration and firing have been determined for different ceramic groups established according to provenance criteria. The studies of technology and provenance have been performed following an archaeometric approach, using neutron activation analysis, petrographic analysis, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results have revealed the existence of two different models. On the one hand, southern Italy seems to exhibit a more organized pottery production, which follows a Mycenaean‐like technology, while in central Macedonia production is probably more varied, being based in part on the technology of the local tradition.     

THE PETROGRAPHY AND CHEMISTRY OF THIN‐WALLED WARE FROM AN HELLENISTIC– ROMAN SITE AT SEGESTA (SICILY)*

Samples of Roman thin‐walled ware from Segesta (northwestern Sicily), dating back to the early Imperial period, were studied by optical microscopy (OM) and Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). Up to now, this class of Roman fine tableware has only occasionally been evaluated archaeometrically. Nevertheless, numerous production centres are believed to have been simultaneously active in the western Mediterranean area. Petrographic and chemical data seem to be in agreement with the archaeological hypothesis of local manufacture in Segesta for most of the analysed samples, through a comparison with kiln wasters and local raw materials. The effectiveness of thin‐section petrography for determining the provenance of such a tiny tempered class of pottery and the integrated use of two different grouping procedures (petrography and chemistry) were also tested.