COMPARATIVE STUDY OF VARIOUS SAMPLES OF ETRUSCAN BUCCHERO BY X-RAY DIFFRACTION,X-RAY SPECTROMETRY,AND THERMOANALYSIS

In order to ascertain whether the technology of Etruscan bucchero was similar everywhere or showed local variation, a comparative study was carried out on 23 samples of bucchero from different sites. The use of carbon dust as a black pigment in this type of pottery was confirmed in all samples, while the hypothesis of the addition of MnO₂ as a colouring was disproved. Further information on the nature of the basic constituents of Etruscan bucchero was also provided.