STUDIO ETNOARCHEOMETRICO DI MALTE AEREE A LEGANTE GESSOSO NELL’AREA DELLE MADONIE (SICILIA SETTENTRIONALE)

The Madonie Regional Park, which covers an area of about 400 square kilometres, is an ideal context where environment and man activities are still mixed harmoniously. In the last years a variety of ethno-archaeometric investigations have been carried out in order to study various aspects of the "material culture" of this territory. In particular, the research was focused on the production of majolica which have had a great importance since the early decades of the 16th century thanks to the geolithological features of the Madonie area, particularly rich in clayey raw material. The traditional building techniques of the Madonie which involve several typologies of building materials (used for…

La problematica del colore negli "smaltini di calcara" palermitani

Composizione chimica

Un approccio integrato allo studio delle "argille ceramiche" della Sicilia Centrale e Occidentale

Analisi al SEM-EDS di smalti e vetrine: esempi in Sicilia

Monitoraggio dell'attività biologica marina su provini ceramici: nuovi approcci metologici

II deterioramento dei manufatti lapidei e ceramici sommersi è un processo che si sviluppa attraverso eventi fisici, chimici (abrasione, deposizione, ossidazione e riduzione ) e biologici attraverso la colonizzazione biologica da parte di microrganismi prima e di macrorganismi successivamente (Lopez-Arce et al. 2013, Aloise et al. 2013), in quanto i materiali forniscono un substrato di attacco per la loro crescita. In un recente progetto PRIN dal titolo "Approcci innovativi per lo studio sperimentale di manufatti ceramici “sommersi" sono stati valutati gli effetti delle diverse condizioni di giacitura dei reperti ceramici e del conseguente deterioramento, mediante uno studio multidisciplinar…

CONTRIBUTION OF MINERALOGICAL, PETROGRAPHIC AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS IN THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CERAMIC PRODUCTION OF MOZIA AND SOLUNTO

Ethnoarchaeometric Study of the Traditional Cooking Ware Production Centre of Pabillonis (Sardinia): Investigating Raw Materials and Final Products

Ethnoarchaeometry can be used to test assumptions in ceramic provenance studies. Within the Late Roman Cooking Wares (LRCW’s) commercialised in the Western Mediterranean some fabrics such as Fabrics 1.2, 1.6/1.7 and 1.9 (Fulford and Peacock, 1984) have been proposed to have a Sardinian origin. This motivated a specific project to explore the nature of cooking pottery on the island and the raw clays as well as the production technologies that have been used traditionally for their manufacture. In this paper, the traditional cooking pottery making in Pabillonis (Oristano province) was studied. First, a field survey in the area of Pabillonis was undertaken in order to locate the raw materials …

I materiali lapidei di pregio utilizzati nella Cappella del Crocifisso presso la chiesa di S. Ignazio Martire all'Olivella (Palermo).

Standardisation of elemental analytical techniques applied to provenance studies of archaeological ceramics: an inter laboratory calibration studyElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: five tabular appendices giving element concentrations measured in reference materials. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/an/b1/b109603f/

Chemical analysis is a well-established procedure for the provenancing of archaeological ceramics. Various analytical techniques are routinely used and large amounts of data have been accumulated so far in data banks. However, in order to exchange results obtained by different laboratories, the respective analytical procedures need to be tested in terms of their inter-comparability. In this study, the schemes of analysis used in four laboratories that are involved in archaeological pottery studies on a routine basis were compared. The techniques investigated were neutron activation analysis (NAA), X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (I…

Clayey materials used for ceramic manufacture in ancient Sicily

Caratterizzazione composizionale delle “argille ceramiche” della Sicilia nord-occidentale: ricadute di carattere archeologico ed archeometrico

A specific operative protocol set up during the restoration of the Grammichele's slate slab

SEM–EDS ANALYSIS AS A RAPID TOOL FOR DISTINGUISHING CAMPANIAN A WARE AND SICILIAN IMITATIONS

The aim of this work is to examine whether it is possible to find chemical markers that allow a distinction to be made between the imported black glossed ‘Campanian A’ and the Sicilian imitation (end of fourth to first century BC) of these productions by carrying out quantitative chemical microanalysis of the slip using the SEM–EDS technique. The efficiency of the proposed analytical method has been tested on a set of ceramic samples corresponding to Sicilian black gloss imitations whose ceramic body has already been characterized petrographically by thin-section microscopy and chemically by XRF. The analytical data point to Na2O as a suitable chemical marker to distinguish between original…

Characterization of the soil properties in agricultural areas affected by shallow landslides: application in Messina area (Sicily).

The determination of soil properties is considerable challenge when it is aimed to evaluate the spatial distribution of one or more parameters across significant surfaces. In fact, terrain sampling and field data are punctual measurement; therefore, quantitative models are needed to predict the spatial distribution of soil attributes. The spatialization of field and laboratory data is a very important information in landslide studies. Raster layers displaying soil properties can be used both for statistical models and for the parameterization of physically based models. The purpose of this work is to produce a detailed hydrological and mechanical characterization of the soil affected by sha…

Natural and anthropogenic sources of total suspended particulate and their contribution to the formation of black crusts on building stone materials of Catania (Sicily)

Blackening and disaggregation of exposed surfaces of stone monuments are well-known effects of stone decay taking place in polluted urban environments all over the world. This paper aims to assess the contribution of natural and anthropogenic sources of total suspended particulate (TSP) causing permanent damage (black crusts) to the stone monuments of Catania (Sicily), one of the most popular ‘‘cities of art’’ of southern Italy. Atmospheric pollution of Catania, a typical Mediterranean coastal town, is mainly contributed by vehicle exhaust emissions rather than industrial ones. Episodically, the city also suffers gaseous and ash emissions (plumes) from the nearby Mount Etna volcano. Thus, t…

The growth of “black crusts” on calcareous building stones in Palermo (Sicily): a first appraisal of anthropogenic and natural sulphur sources

Chemical, mineralogical and isotopic composition (34S/32S) analyses were carried out on “black crusts” developed on the old buildings of Palermo (Sicily) with the aim to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic sulphur sources. Furthermore individual samples of total suspended particulate (TSP) were collected and analysed in order to estimate the influence of air pollution on the decay process of calcareous stones in a typical southern Mediterranean coastal environment. SEM/EDS analysis, X-ray diffractometry, IR spectroscopy and liquid chromatography led to the compositional characterization of “black crusts” and airborne particulate matter in the city. Sulphur isotopic compositions of…

Contessa Entellina (PA): Amphorae and ‘Romanization’ in inner western Sicily

INDIGENOUS TABLEWARE PRODUCTION DURING THE ARCHAIC PERIOD IN WESTERN SICILY: NEW RESULTS FROM PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS.

Palermo. Uno scavo d’emergenza nell’area di Piazza Marina

Il "tufo calcareo" di Palermo e dintorni

Geomaterials in green building practices: comparative characterization of commercially available clay-based plasters

Three pre-mixed powdered clay-based (earthen) plasters produced in Europe and specifically designed for wall undercoating were analyzed in this paper. These materials are commercially available and successfully employed in green building practices all over the world. Their compositional and textural characteristics, as well as plastic behaviour were investigated through a multi-analytical approach: X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), polarized light microscopy (PLM), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS), scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), grain-size distribution (GSD) and semi-empirical tests (Atterberg…

Mineralogical and petrographic analysis of early-Hellenistic mortars from a Punic-Roman residential area discovered at Palermo (Sicily)

Lime based mortars dated back to 4th-3rd century BC were sampled in a Punic-Roman residential area recently brought to light in the historical centre of Palermo. The collected mortars have been analyzed by optical microscopy (PLM), X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS). The study was aimed to characterize these materials from the textural and compositional point of view in order to define the recipes. The mineralogical and petrographic investigations allowed to establish 4 different recipes used for the formulation of the studied floor and wall mortars in terms of both compositional and textural featur…

A comparative study of different formulations of poultices for soluble salts removal from experimental plasters

Soluble salts extractive capability of some commercial materials currently used in plaster restoration sector (ArbocelTM plus sepiolite; ArbocelTM, sepiolite and sand; Westox-Cocoon®) were tested in the present study, with the aim to evaluate their efficiency, their compatibility with the substrates as well as in terms of costs and duration of intervention. The three poultice products were first characterized in terms of porosimetric distribution. The desalination tests have been performed on samples of plaster specially formulated and made at the laboratory. Experimental specimens were then brought into contact with a solution of Na2SO4 0.3 M. The efficiency rating of these different types…

Gis Geoarcheologico: applicazioni su insediamenti di età arcaica ubicati nella Sicilia occidentale

Sources of geomaterials in the Sicani Mountains during the Early Middle Ages: A case study of Contrada Castro, central western Sicily

From 2017, an unknown rural settlement in Contrada Castro at Corleone (Palermo Province, western Sicily) was investigated as part of the `Harvesting Memories Project¿. The stratigraphic sequence, supported by radiocarbon dating, has demonstrated a reoccupation of a pre-Roman site during the transition between the Byzantine and Islamic periods. In particular, the main occupation occurred in the late 8th¿9th century when pottery kilns and a probable warehouse were constructed. During the 10th¿11th century, a new structure with different orientations replaced the previous buildings that had already collapsed. Specifically focusing on a perspective of the household production and its relationsh…

Effects of compositional and textural characteristics of clay based plasters on the control of indoor relative humidity

Air humidity in contained spaces has a significant impact on health of inhabitants. The control capability of indoor relative humidity (RH) of clay-based plasters was tested on a series of commercially available products specifically designed for wall undercoating and on a natural earth collected in the surrounding area of Palermo. The innovative practice of ‘‘green building’’, since several years, led the interest of research to recyclable and reusable traditional materials that, in several cases, are a sustainable alternative to concrete and lime mortars. Earthen plasters, in general, have the ability to balance indoor humidity like no other classic building materials. The studied samples…

Contribution of fly ash and TSP to the formation of decay layers on building materials in urban environments of Sicily (Italy)

A specific operative protocol set up during the restoration of the Grammichele slate slab

This work deals with the conservation of a slate slab, representing the map of Grammichele, a small town in the hinterland of South Eastern Sicily. The slab was engraved and painted in 1693, just after the tremendous earthquake that distroyed most of the towns in that area. The conservation process is illustrated through three steps: i) archive research; ii) physical chemical analysis of constitutive materials and degradation products; iii) planning and carrying out of the restoration and conservation operations.

Studio petrografico di macine protostoriche dai siti di Alorda Park e di Barranc de Galfos (Spagna)

Questo studio rientra in un progetto di ricerca condotto in collaborazione con l’Equipé di Ricerca Archeometrica dell’Università di Barcellona (ERAUB), dipartimento di Preistoria, Storia Antica e Archeologica dell’Università di Barcellona (Spagna). Ha come oggetto la caratterizzazione mineralogico-petrografica e la determinazione di provenienza di macine dal VI al III secolo a.C. ritrovate in due parchi archeologici entrambi ubicati in Catalogna. L'interesse su questo genere di manufatti scaturisce da semplici considerazioni: • la produzione di macine implica l'acquisizione di nozioni tecnologiche (come la scelta dei parametri morfologici, e la ricerca dei materiali più adatti, etc.) che si…

Analisi al microscopio elettronico (SEM-EDS) di campioni ceramici provenienti da Castello Nuovo di Sciacca

Petrographic and geochemical characterization of Archaic-Hellenistic tableware production at Solunto, Sicily

A selected assortment of Archaic-Hellenistic tableware samples from Solunto, a Phoenician-Punic site located 20 km east of Palermo (Sicily), has been subjected to thin-section petrography and chemical analysis (XRF). In this settlement several ceramic kilns remained operative over a long time period (7th to 3rd century B.C.). The main goal of this analytical study is to distinguish the ceramics manufactured locally from regional and off-island imports. Analytical results were matched to similar data concerning local natural clay sources and to coeval tableware productions from other sites in the same area. The ceramic pastes used by the ancient craftsmen of Solunto in the case of this class…

Salt extraction from lime-based mortars: An experimental study using different poultice formulations

Abstract The extractive capability of soluble salts in poultices treatments currently used in mortar conservation (ArbocelTM plus sepiolite; ArbocelTM, sepiolite and sand; Westox-Cocoon®) were tested to evaluate their efficiency and compatibility with specific mortar substrate. The pore size distribution of the experimental mortar substrate and of the blank dried poultices were preliminarily accomplished by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Desalination tests were carried out on specifically-formulated mortars after capillary absorption of Na2SO4 0.3 M solution. The efficiency of salt extraction was measured by means of electrical conductivity meter and ion chromatography. Among the test…

LE ANFORE PUNICHE DI ENTELLA (SICILIA CENTRO-OCCIDENTALE): ANALISI ARCHEOMETRICHE FINALIZZATE ALLA DETERMINAZIONE DI PROVENIENZA

Preliminary results on the historical production of majolica tiles in the Madonie area (Northern Central Sicily)

ANALISI ARCHEOMETRICHE SU CERAMICHE DA FUOCO TARDOANTICHE DA DYRRACHION (ALBANIA): NUOVI DATI.

This work, together with a paper previously published on LRCW2, allows a first classification of the ceramic manufactures wellmatched with the geolithological characteristics of the district of Durrës (Albania). In the earlier phase of the research archaeological and archaeometric studies were carried out on selected samples representative of cooking ware forms brought to light in late roman layers of abandonment of a thermal complex located in Dyrrachion (Durrës) and dated back to the end of the 1st and the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The polarizing microscope observation of thin sections permitted the petrographic classification of 10 selected samples into 5 ceramic pastes, which wer…

Pantellerian ware: a comprehensive archaeometric review.

Pantellerian ware is a Late Roman cooking ware whose production centre was established on the island of Pantelleria by the pioneering research of Fulford and Peacock almost 20 years ago (Peacock 1982; Fulford and Peacock 1984). Archaeological and archaeometric studies carried out by the authors of the present contribution during the past four years have aimed to fully characterize this ceramic class. Recurrent ceramic forms, their distribution over time and space, their petrographic characteristics and their chemical identity, as well as possible raw materials and their technological properties, were considered. The present paper is a comprehensive review of this archaeometric work and aims…

Laboratory tests addressed to realize customized restoration procedures of underwater archaeological ceramic finds

The present contribution is part of a biennial research project funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR). This study, currently in progress, deals with innovative experimental approaches applied to the chemical, mineralogical and physical transformations occurring during the prolonged permanence of archaeological ceramic finds in seawater environments as well as to restoration and conservation issues of the same underwater artifacts. The experimental approach used in this research consisted in the manufacture of ceramic test-pieces (briquettes) and their successive placing in underwater environment. This work aims at assessing how textural and compositio…

The mosaic of the Frigidarium of “Villa Bonanno” in Palermo: mineralogical and petrographic analyses for in situ conservation and restoration interventions

The topic of this study was the mineralogical and petrographic characterization of bedding mortars (made of different layers) and tesserae of Roman age (3rd Century A.D.), taken from the mosaic of the Frigidarium of “Villa Bonanno”, brought to light by archaeological excavations conducted in the historical centre of Palermo. The collected samples have been analysed by thin-section optical microscopy (PLM), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS). The study was aimed to define the “recipe” (composition of temper and binder, temper size distribution, temper/binder ratio), in order to assess the provenance of raw materials (supply site/area) and t…

Archaeometry of Sicilian glazed pottery

Petrographic and chemical analyses of the “ceramic body” of 114 majolica artefacts manufactured in Sicily over a wide time range (16th–-19th century) are presented. All the analysed samples, which belong to museums and private collections, were previously attributed to Sicilian workshops based on stylistic features evaluated by expert historians of art. Unambiguous identification of the production sites of majolica handicrafts in Sicily remains, however, open to question when this relies only on purely stylistic considerations. To this end compositional and/or textural markers have been searched for in the “ceramic body” of the majolica artefacts in order to differentiate between the centre…

Compositional reference for the documented Archaic production of indigenous matt-painted pottery at Entella (Western Sicily)

This contribution is focused on a specific class of indigenous Archaic pottery (sixth and fifth century BC) with matt-painted geometric decoration that was recovered in large quantities in the excavations at Entella, an indigenous site located in western Sicily. The site of Entella was strategically considerable in this part of Sicily, controlling the north-south routes running along the river Belice. Kiln structures were attested at Entella that, until today, it is the only Archaic site in the area with an unmistakable evidence of production of fine pottery. The present research is aimed at yielding a complete petrographic and chemical characterization of the table ware produced at Entella…

The production of traditional building materials in Oristano (Sardinia, Italy)

The study of ceramic-making communities which employ traditional practices can provide insights into the raw materials and techniques used over the centuries in a particular territory. The archaeometric study of ceramic products and of the raw materials used in their production is an effective complement to the existing ethnographic information. This paper focuses on the brick and tile making tradition of Oristano, a town in Central-Western Sardinia (Italy). Applying a combination of techniques, it includes an extensive analysis of traditional handmade and early industrial bricks and tiles, and a study of the local clays that may have been used as raw materials. Although we were unable to s…

Exploring Automatic Grouping Procedures in Ceramic Petrology

The production cycle of lime-based plasters in the Late Roman settlement of Scauri, on the island of Pantelleria, Italy

This paper deals with the archaeometric study of lime-based plasters found in the archaeological settlement of Scauri, located in the homonymous bay in the south-western part of Pantelleria Island. Since 1999, archaeological surveys have led to the recovery of the huge remains of a Late Roman settlement dating back to the fourth-fifth century AD. It is well known that the island of Pantelleria is entirely composed of volcanic rocks. Accordingly, the production of quicklime required calcareous rocks to be imported. Also, the selection criteria of the sandy aggregate are relevant and of interest to this study, to evaluate the achieved technological level. Within this context, a mineralogical …

Establishing a “recipe” for pantellerian ware: raw materials field survey, analysis and experimental firing

The “recipe” of the stucco sculptures of Giacomo Serpotta

Abstract Mineralogical and chemical data (organic) of some representative samples collected from stucco-works by the famous Sicilian sculptor Giacomo Serpotta (Palermo, 1656–1732) have been combined with the aim of ascertaining their manufacture technology in the light of local historical sources. A complete correspondence between samples belonging to the “Victory” statue (1723) and the S.S. Rosario oratory (1685–1689) as regards stratigraphy, mineralogy of sand aggregate, composition of binder matrix, and nature and concentrations of organic additives is pointed out. Considering that the studied works of art cover more than 35 years of the artist’s activity, it is consequential to think of…

Multi-analytical study of the medieval wall paintings from the rupestrian church Grotta del Crocifisso at Lentini (eastern Sicily): new evidence of the use of woad (Isatis tinctoria)

AbstractThis study presents the results of the examination and characterisation of the wall paintings that decorate the rupestrian church named Grotta del Crocifisso, which is located in the territory of Lentini (eastern Sicily, few tens of kilometres from Catania and Syracuse). The earliest mural paintings in the church date back to the twelfth century AD. A multi-analytical approach was adopted for the characterisation of stone materials, secondary degradation products, and pigments. For this purpose, the following techniques were used: reflected light microscopy (RLM), polarised light microscopy on thin sections (PLM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP),…

Punic Amphorae at Entella (Sicily): Archaeometric Characterisation of this Possible Consumption Centre

This paper reports the archaeometric characterisation of a number of Phoenician-Punic amphorae from the ancient site of Entella in western Sicily. Entella lies in the Sicani Mountains, along the left bank of the Hypsas-Belice river, approximately 40km from its mouth (Fig.1a). It is considered to be one of the most important indigenous settlements of western Sicily, dominating the main terrestrial and fluvial commercial routes between the south-western and northern shores of the island (Nenci 1988/89; Vaggioli 2001; Moggi and Gulletta 2001). Ancient historians first cited Entella for the unfaithful behaviour of Campanian mercenaries. During the first Punic War, Entella was a flourishing urba…

Ceramic Ethnoarchaeometry in Western Sardinia: Production of Cooking Ware at Pabillonis

Ceramic ethnoarchaeology has been used to explore fully the chaine operatoire and to understand all of the stages and factors involved in pottery production, such as raw material selection or paste recipes used by the potters. This work presents the results of the application of compositional analysis undertaken in the village of Pabillonis (western Sardinia, Italy), the main cooking ware production centre of the island. Pottery and local clays have been characterized using a combination of analytical techniques. By integrating the ethnographic information and the archaeometric approach, it was possible to reconstruct the operational sequence, exploring the relationship between the processi…

Nuovi dati archeologici e archeometrici sulla produzione di ceramica indigena della Sicilia occidentale.

Gli smaltini e intarsi a marmi mischi e tramischi

I materiali lapidei dell’edilizia storica di Palermo: conoscenza per il restauro

Ceramica a vernice nera di età ellenistica da siti della Sicilia occidentale. Considerazioni tipologiche e analisi archerometriche

Il contributo intende illustrare i risultati che è possibile raggiungere nell’esaminare dal punto di vista archeometrico precise forme ceramiche – e non semplici frammenti – a vernice nera, integrando le osservazioni di natura tipologica con i dati ottenuti dalla caratterizzazione mineralogica, petrografica e chimica degli impasti. I campioni provengono da quattro diversi siti della Sicilia nord-occidentale, e appartengono a due forme ben distinte, una coppa-skyphoide di produzione locale/regionale di fine IV-III sec. a.C., ed una patera di II-I sec. a.C. prodotta prevalentemente in Campana A, ma imitata forse anche da officine locali. Le analisi hanno permesso di discriminare in modo ogget…

Pore structure and water transfer in Pietra d’Aspra limestone: A neutronographic study

Neutron radiography (NR) was here applied to study the effects of two different commercially available consolidants on the water absorption properties in a particular type of limestone (biocalcarenite), known as Pietra d’Aspra stone, which is one of the most extensively used lithotypes in Sicilian Baroque buildings. Our attention was mainly focused on the evaluation, using a fast and nondestructive visualization of water motion through capillarity, of the effectiveness of such layers as consolidating agents in view of preserving and maintaining both old and modern structures. The biocalcarenite was treated with nanosilica (Nano Estel®) and nanolime (CaLoSil®) by brushing it until full satur…

Les marbres et jaspes siciliens utilisés dans la pratique décorative à "marmi mischi".

Ceramic raw materials: how to recognize them and locate the supply basins—mineralogy, petrography

This tutorial paper is focused on the mineralogical-petrographic characterization of clayey raw materials with the purpose of sourcing supply basins and answering questions about the provenance of the corresponding archaeological ceramic artefacts. The first part gives general indications of how to profitably study archaeological ceramic thin sections through the polarizing microscope. Brief notes are provided on the theoretical basis of optical microscopy. A scheme is then provided for the petrographic description of ceramic samples, concerning the textural and compositional characteristics of aplastic inclusions and groundmass. Suggestions are also given for identifying any minero-petrogr…

Analisi petrografica e chimica di anfore puniche di età arcaica dagli scavi di Himera (Sicilia Nord-Occidentale)

IL DEGRADO FLOS TECTORII DELLE MALTE DA INTONACO: ESEMPI IN SICILIA

Multi O- and S-isotopes as tracers of black crusts formation under volcanic and non-volcanic atmospheric conditions in Sicily (Italy)

International audience; The deterioration of monument or building stone materials is mostly due to the growth of black crusts that cause blackening and disaggregation of the exposed surface. This study reports on new oxygen (δ17O, δ18O and Δ17O) and sulphur (δ33S, δ34S, δ36S, Δ33S and Δ36S) isotopic analyses of black crust sulphates formed on building stones in Sicily (Southern Italy). The measurements are used to identify the possible influence of volcanic emissions on black crust formation. Black crusts were mostly sampled on carbonate stone substrate in different locations subject to various sulphur emission sources (marine, anthropogenic and volcanic). Unlike atmospheric sulphate aeroso…

Pantellerian ware a comprehensive archaeometric review.

Pantellerian ware is a Late Roman cooking ware whose production centre was established on the island of Pantelleria by the pioneering research of Fulford and Peacock almost 20 years ago (Peacock 1982; Fulford and Peacock 1984). Archaeological and archaeometric studies carried out by the authors of the present contribution during the past four years have aimed to fully characterize this ceramic class. Recurrent ceramic forms, their distribution over time and space, their petrographic characteristics and their chemical identity, as well as possible raw materials and their technological properties, were considered. The present paper is a comprehensive review of this archaeometric work and aims…

Studio porosimetrico e stima della suscettività al degrado delle biocalcareniti in opera nel centro storico di Palermo.

ANALISI MINERALOGICO-PETROGRAFICHE E POROSIMETRICHE FUNZIONALI AL RESTAURO DELLE CALCARENITI IN OPERA NEI PROSPETTI NORD ED OVEST DI PALAZZO CHIARAMONTE-STERI (PALERMO)

Caratterizzazione mineralogico-petrografica delle malte in opera nel Castello di Calatamauro a Contessa Entellina (Sicilia occidentale)

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…

Different methods for soluble salt removal tested on late-Roman cooking ware from a submarine excavation at the island of Pantelleria (Sicily, Italy)

Abstract This paper deals with the comparative evaluation of different procedures of salt extraction designed for archaeological ceramics from submarine burial environments. The experimental work was carried out on a particular type of late-Roman cooking ware finds (Pantellerian ware) found in a shipwreck near the shoreline of the Island of Pantelleria (Sicily). The studied ceramic test-pieces were first recognised in terms of bulk characteristics (mineralogy, petrography and chemistry). SEM-EDS observation allowed verification of the presence of various secondary minerals at the surface and in the pore spaces formed after the prolonged permanence in seawater under oxidising or reducing con…

Studio Petrografico di macine di età arcaica e classica dai siti di Alorda Park e di Barranc de Gafols (Spagna)

Chemical, mineralogical and isotopic characterization of black crusts and airborne particulate matter in the historical urban area of Palermo

GIS ed archeometria della produzione ceramica: un esempio nella Sicilia occidentale.

Definizione composizionale delle "Argille Ceramiche" presenti nella Sicilia Nord-Occidentale: Inquadramento geologico e ricadute di carattere archeometrico

The indigenous settlement of Monte Iato (western Sicily): an ethnoarchaeometric approach for outlining local Archaic ceramic productions

AbstractAn ethnoarchaeometric approach has been followed to identify the textural and compositional characteristics of the ceramic pastes produced in ancient Iaitas/Ietas, an indigenous site located in western Sicily on Monte Iato, a few tens of kilometres from Palermo. This approach was primarily motivated by the lack of discovered Archaic kilns or production sites/workshops and the inability to identify reference groups. Raw clays were sampled in the territory of San Cipirello and San Giuseppe Iato (today’s municipalities both sited on the northern slopes of Monte Iato), together with representative historic tiles and bricks locally produced until fairly recently. Grain-size analysis and …

Inquadramento geologico e definizione composizionale delle "argille ceramiche" presenti nella Sicilia nord-occidentale: ricadute di carattere archeometrico.

Ceramic ethnoarchaeometry in Sicily: recent traditional productions as a tool for understanding past manufactures

As is well known ethnoarchaeology aims to help archaeologists in the reconstruction of ancient social and cultural habits and lifestyle. It has also been used for the better understanding of the main elements involved in the historical pottery production of a given territory: selection criteria of clayey raw materials; paste recipes used by local craftsmen; to test hypotheses of pottery provenance from a specific workshop (Peacock, 1982; Fulford & Peacock, 1984; Arnold et al., 1991; Costin, 2000; Stark et al., 2000; Buxeda et al., 2003). On the other hand, the works that apply physicochemical analytical methodologies to study traditional ceramic artefacts and clayey raw materials occur more…

Composizione granulometrica e mineralogica

SEM-EDS ANALYSIS AS A RAPID TOOL FOR DISTINGUISHING CAMPANIAN A WARE AND SICILIAN IMITATIONS

The aim of this work is to examine whether it is possible to find chemical markers that allow a distinction to be made between the imported black glossed ‘Campanian A’ and the Sicilian imitation (end of fourth to first century bc) of these productions by carrying out quantitative chemical microanalysis of the slip using the SEM–EDS technique. The efficiency of the proposed analytical method has been tested on a set of ceramic samples corresponding to Sicilian black gloss imitations whose ceramic body has already been characterized petrographically by thin-section microscopy and chemically by XRF. The analytical data point to Na2O as a suitable chemical marker to distinguish between original…

Moisture absorption, thermal conductivity and noise mitigation of clay based plasters: The influence of mineralogical and textural characteristics

Abstract Three pre-mixed clay based plasters successfully employed in green building practices in several European countries (Spain, France, Germany, and United Kingdom), mainly used for interior wall coating and finishing, were tested in this paper. Their compositional and textural characteristics as well as plastic behaviour were investigated through a multi-analytical approach in a previous paper. A natural earth (Terra Rossa red soil sampled in north-western Sicily), theoretically appropriate for the production of earthen plaster, was also subjected to the same analytical routine and compared with the three commercially available products. Humidity control capacity by the determination …

La prima serie di analisi mineralogiche sulle anfore di Ischia.

A mineralogical-petrographic analysis of samples of Sicilian archeological earthen mortars

Dossier: la dea di Morgantina. Le prove geologiche a favore della provenienza siciliana.

Volcanogenic particulates and gases from Etna volcano (Italy)

Volcanic emissions represent one of the most relevant natural sources of trace elements to the troposphere. Due to their potential toxicity they may have important environmental impacts from the local to the global scale and they can severely affect the atmospheric and terrestrial environment also at timescales ranging from a few to million years. Etna volcano is known as one of the largest global contributors of magmatic gases (CO2, SO2, and halogens) and particulate matter, including some toxic trace elements. The aim of this study was to characterize the chemical composition and the mineralogical features of the volcanogenic aerosol passively emitted from Mt. Etna. Nine samples were coll…

Caratterizzazione mineralogica petrografica e chimica della produzione ceramica selinuntina di età classica ed ellenistica

Il contributo delle analisi in microscopia elettronica alla caratterizzazione tecnologica e composizionale delle manifatture in maiolica: un caso di studio in Sicilia

The blue enamels in the baroque decorations of the churches of Palermo, Sicily: Fe2+-coloured glasses from lime kilns

Deep blue glasses coloured by octahedral Fe 2+ cations are often reported as textbook examples of blue pigmentation. However, despite the possibility of laboratory synthesis under reducing conditions, to date there are no well-reported occurrences of their production and use in the past. A thorough historical, ethnographic, mineralogical, and chemico-physical investigation of the 'smaltini di calcara' from several baroque churches in Palermo, Sicily, has revealed that the blue enamels widely used for altar decorations in the 17th and 18th centuries are actually a unique case of ancient blue glasses pigmented by divalent iron cations in distorted octahedral coordination. This mixed-alkali gl…

Volcanogenic particulates and gases from Etna volcano (Italy)

Caracterización petrográfica de cerámicas a mano y a torno del yacimiento protohistórico de la Plaza de la Catedral (Ceuta)

Exploring automatic grouping procedures in ceramic petrology

Although a small number of studies have attempted to introduce automatic grouping procedures into thin section petrography of archaeological ceramics, the majority of studies continue to be carried out by non-automatic means. Although such an approach with the single observer grouping samples has a number of advantages, it is problematic when dealing with large numbers of samples. This paper aims to explore different coding systems and statistical analyses for grouping ceramic thin sections. In the example discussed a number of variables are defined, codified and analysed by correspondence analysis, classical multidimensional scaling, non-metric isotonic multidimensional scaling and Sammon …

Characterisation of clayey raw materials for ceramic manufacture in ancient Sicily

Abstract It is well known that mineralogical, petrographic and chemical analyses can successfully support provenance studies of archaeological ceramics. The characterisation of a ceramic paste, the assessment of its technology of production and its provenance assignment related to a specific production centre or to a geographical and/or compositional space, are all tasks that can be performed even more accurately if the clayey raw materials used in pottery production are also studied. For that reason the identification of the clay deposits exploited in a given ceramic workshop often plays a key role in the archaeometric reconstruction of the production cycle where geology, mineralogy, petro…

The production cycle of lime based plasters in the Late Roman settlement of Scauri, Island of Pantelleria (Italy)

This paper deals with the archaeometric study and analysis of lime based plasters recently found in the archaeological settlement of Scauri, located in the homonymous bay at the island of Pantelleria (central Mediterranean, Strait of Sicily). The Bay of Scauri is sited in the south-west part of the island. It can be considered a natural harbour overlooking the coast of Cape Bon in Tunisia. Since the 1999, the archaeological importance of place was reconsidered thanks to the recovering of huge remains of a Late Roman settlement dating back to the 4th-5th century AD. A production quarter, a residential area, a necropolis and a religious area were brought to light. The economy of the settlemen…

The Beginning of Western Greek Amphorae Production in Western Sicily: Archaeometric and Archaeological Studies on 6th–5th Centuries BCE Amphorae Manufactured in Himera

About 560 western Greek amphorae (6th–5th centuries BCE) re-used in enchytrismos burials were unearthed in the necropolis of the Dorian-Chalcidian colony of Himera in northwestern Sicily. Among the most striking issues is the determination of their geographical provenance. For this purpose, ceramic samples chipped from freshly broken surfaces of all the amphorae were first subdivided into macrofabrics by the use of a hand lens. Thereon, the samples were studied in accordance with standardized methods by the use of reflected light microscopy. Due to the special focus of our project on the characterization of Sicilian productions, a selection of amphorae which showed visible, macroscopic affi…

ANALISI ARCHEOMETRICHE SU UN PAVIMENTO MAIOLICATO DEL XV SECOLO (OSPEDALE DEI TROVATELLI, MESSINA)

La ceramica comune, le anfore e i laterizi: caratteristiche tecniche ed identificazione delle provenienze.

This paper deals with the analysis of 51 ceramic samples selected from a larger number between the findings coming from the Scauri’s late Roman wreck. The samples, represented by daily use pottery (table ware, cooking ware), transport amphorae, tiles and bricks, were analyzed by means of thin-section petrography. The observations of thin-sections by the polarizing microscope was focused on the paste description as well as on the identification of compositional and/or textural makers to be used for recognizing the area of provenance (production center) of the ceramic objects. Therefore, features such as mineralogy, packing, size distribution and morphology of the aplastic grains were pointed…

Flos Tectorii degradation of mortars: An example of synergistic action between soluble salts and biodeteriogens

Abstract The definition of Flos Tectorii, originally suggested by F.S. Brancato in the 1980s’ (Brancato, 1986), refers to a unique form of deterioration identified on both aerial and hydraulic mortars used in the external walls of historic and contemporary buildings. It is clearly recognizable due to the development of peculiar concentric (occasionally sub-circular) macroscopic forms. At present, there is still a lack of information about the full interpretation of this phenomenon regarding the interaction between the different physicochemical and biological factors that lead to this particular type of degradation. The present study was aimed to examine whether the specific mineralogical an…

Il contributo dell'archeometria alla ricostruzione della cultura materiale: la produzione ceramica nelle alte Madonie (Sicilia centro-settentrionale).

Ceramic ethnoarchaeometry in Western Sardinia: Production of cooking ware at Pabillonis

Ceramic ethnoarchaeology has been used to explore fully the chaîne opératoire and to understand all of the stages and factors involved in pottery production, such as raw material selection or paste recipes used by the potters. This work presents the results of the application of compositional analysis undertaken in the village of Pabillonis (western Sardinia, Italy), the main cooking ware production centre of the island. Pottery and local clays have been characterized using a combination of analytical techniques. By integrating the ethnographic information and the archaeometric approach, it was possible to reconstruct the operational sequence, exploring the relationship between the processi…

La Chiesa dell'Immacolata Concezione, Padéisos di marmi e di luce

ANALYSIS OF CLAYEY RAW MATERIALS IN WESTERN SICILY: ARCHEOLOGICAL AND ARCHAEOMETRIC INFERENCES

Caratterizzazione mineralogica e petro-fisica di mattoni in “terra cruda” da un sito del Campidano centro-meridionale

Indagini archeometriche funzionali all'individuazione dei centri di produzione ceramica attivi in età arcaica nella Sicilia centro-occidentale: Monte Adranone (Sambuca di Sicilia, Agrigento).

Strength of pre-Roman amphorae: Comparison of the different types

Abstract Given that amphorae were used for storage or for long and/or short distance transport, they must have been able to retain their content and, at the same time, be able to resist important load during transport. This paper concerns aspects of the techno-functionality of pre-Roman Iberian amphorae. The basic performance requirement concerned here is the mechanical strength (transverse rupture strength: TRS). Strength is related to the adequacy for storage or short and/or long distance transport that, up to now, is only assessed by typological identification or archaeological evidence. Experimental implementation on actual archaeological material has confirmed that strength increased w…

Archaeometric analysis of building ceramics and ‘dolia defossa’ from the Roman Imperial estate of Vagnari (Gravina in Puglia, Italy)

Abstract This paper concerns the archaeometric analysis of ceramic finds dating to the Roman Imperial period, brought to light during the excavation campaigns conducted at Vagnari (Puglia) in south-east Italy. On the site of the central village (vicus) of this imperial estate, established by the Roman Emperor in the early 1st century CE, large dolia (wine vats) sunk into the floor of a winery of the 2nd century CE recently were brought to light. Other discoveries include kilns for the production of ceramic roof tiles and also kiln wasters such as misfired tiles. The purpose of the analytical approach was therefore twofold: 1) to establish the composition of local ceramic products and of raw…

Analisi di argille siciliane per una valutazione preliminare dell’attitudine all’impiego nel settore dell’architettura in “terra cruda”

Analisi petrografica e chimica di anfore puniche dagli scavi di Himera.

Le anfore fenicio-puniche prodotte nel Mediterraneo occidentale: caratteristiche petrografiche degli impasti siciliani e spagnoli.

The aim of this paper is to provide well-stated petrographic reference groups for the recognition of several Sicilian and Spanish Phoenician-Punic production centres in order to facilitate an instrument of further objective support for amphorae provenance. This instrument is based on the crosschecking between data provided by typological studies and the thinsection analysis of amphorae fabrics. It is worth noting that this is only a first step within the framework of a larger research project focused in the creation of an Atlas of Phoenician and Punic Amphorae in the Western Mediterranean including both archaeological and petrographic data. In this context a systematical work on the known p…

Thin-section petrography and chemistry of arcaic indigenous pottery from western Sicily settlements.

Ceramic Production in the Indigenous Settlement of Entella (Western Sicily) During the Archaic Age

Indigenous fine tablewares (both plain and with painted geometric patterns/decorations) were widely diffused in western and central Sicily between the seventh and the fifth centuries BC (Gargini 1995; Spatafora 1996; Trombi 1999; Campisi 2003 However, the considerable recurrence of shapes and decorative subjects inhibits the identification of specific production centres merely on the basis of stylistic and morphological analyses. Therefore, the extent of the distribution of objects manufactured in different workshops cannot be fully appreciated, and the network of ceramic trade in Archaic Sicily is acknowledged only in terms of the relationships between the Phoenician and Greek colonies and…

ENTELLA (CONTESSA ENTELLINA, PA) INDICATORI DI PRODUZIONI CERAMICHE TRA XII E XIII SECOLO.

Parametri tecnologici allo stato plastico e dopo cottura

Le ricerche archeometriche: la caratterizzazione delle produzioni di anfore punico-siciliane

La definizione archeologica ed archeometrica delle produzioni della Sicilia punica ha costituito una delle priorità nell’ambito di un progetto di ricerca incentrato sulla provenienza di anfore commerciali da siti del Mediterraneo centro-meridionale. Presentiamo qui la versione aggiornata ed ampliata, in lingua italiana, di questo studio, parzialmente già pubblicato nella quarta edizione della banca dati di FACEM. L’analisi delle serie di anfore punico-siciliane ha avuto due obiettivi di base: 1. definire il repertorio tipologico delle singole città, già ben conosciuto per le fondazioni fenicie di Motya (cap. 6) e Solus (cap. 4), meno chiaro quello di Panormos (cap. 5) e sostanzialmente anco…

Pantellerian ware: new data on petrography, chemistry and technological properties

Coloured limestones and white marbles in the courtyard of the Temple of Venus (Pompeii): consideration of provenance by petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical methods

Ceramic production at Selinunte (Sicily) during the 4th and 3rd century BCE: New archaeometric data through the analysis of kiln wastes

Abstract A set of 37 overfired ceramic samples was collected from the dump of two kilns sited in the productive area FF1 in the acropolis of Selinunte (south western Sicily), being specifically active in the period 409–250 BCE. The ceramic samples were analysed by thin-section petrography and chemical analysis, with the aim to establish a valuable ‘reference group’ representative of the ceramic produced at Selinunte during the Punic phase. The petrographic and chemical analyses allowed to state that the ceramic manufactures from the kilns operating in the FF1 insula are characterized by rather homogeneous textural/compositional features. The daily-use common ware here produced is characteri…

Cataloghi IVA e IVB: Schede delle analisi mineralogiche.

Microchemical and microstructural characteristics of medieval and post-medieval ceramic glaze coatings

Recovering evidence for the use of marble and coloured limestone in the first century AD in excavations at the sanctuary of Venus at Pompeii.

Analisi al microscopio elettronico (SEM-EDS) di campioni ceramici provenienti dallo scarico delle fornaci cinquecentesche di Burgio.

Selinunte (Sicily) and its productive context: the clayey raw materials applied in a long-lived ceramic production (seventh to third century BCE)

The westernmost of the Greek-Sicilian towns, Selinunte, founded in western Sicily during the second half of the seventh century BCE, gives amazing evidences of a historic activity of ceramic production (seventh to third century BCE). The present study aims to identify the raw materials available in the vicinity of the archaeological site of Selinunte, which were possibly used by the ancient potters, and to characterise them by means of petrographic and chemical techniques. A sampling campaign of clays and sands for tempering was undertaken in the archaeological site and the adjacent area. Moreover, locally produced archaeological bricks and tiles were considered helpful for comparison regar…

Impasti e microfoto delle sezioni sottili di alcune anfore greco italiche bollate di Ischia.

Ceramic Raw Materials

Any ceramic object represents the result of a well-structured production chain starting with the localization and the exploitation of a suitable raw material and ending with the artisanship and craftsmanship of the potter. The study of ceramic raw materials has been increasingly regarded in archaeometric research as the best starting point for identifying local paste recipes for pottery diachronically produced in any historical period. The classification of a ceramic paste and its assignment to a production center can be established more easily when ceramic sherds, kiln wasters, and raw material are studied in combination. The reconstruction of the “production chain” should facilitate the s…

Caratterizzazione tecnologica di mattoni in maiolica prodotti nell'area delle Madonie (Sicilia centro-settentrionale) tra il XVI e il XVIII secolo.

The majolica production of Northern central Sicily (16th - 18th Century AD): Archaeometric evidence

CAMPIONARI IN “MARMI” E PIETRE DURE DEL BAROCCO SICILIANO: UN ESEMPIO A SIRACUSA

Applicazione delle tecniche mineralogico-petrografiche per la caratterizzazione dei materiali lapidei in opera nel centro storico di Palermo e delle forme di degrado.

Mount Etna volcano (Italy) as a major “dust” point source in the Mediterranean area

Volcanic emissions represent one of the most relevant natural sources of trace elements to the troposphere. Due to their potential toxicity, they may have important environmental impacts from local to global scale. They can also severely affect the atmospheric and terrestrial environment at timescales ranging from a few to millions of years. Mt. Etna volcano is known as one of the largest global contributors of magmatic gases (CO2, SO2 and halogens) and particulate matter, including some toxic trace elements. The aim of this study is to characterize the chemical composition and the mineralogical features of the volcanogenic aerosol passively emitted from Mt. Etna. Twenty-five samples were c…

CAMPANIAN WINE FOR PUNIC SICILY: PETROGRAPHIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES OF GRAECO-ITALIC AMPHORAE FROM PALERMO

This contribution proposes a combination of archaeological fabric analysis and petrographic research applied to the study of 35 sherds of Graeco-Italic amphorae mostly found in Palermo, but also in Pantelleria and Malta (Tab. 1). The provenance identification derived from both approaches gives evidence for the arrival, in North-Western Sicily, of presumable wine amphorae from central-Tyrrhenian Italy since the very late 4th century BC. The production of the majority of the material has been confidentially attributed to the area of the Gulf of Naples/Ischia, but a second large group originates from several, still unidentified production sites to be located along the coastal strip of Campania…

Ceramica a vernice nera di età ellenistica da siti della Sicilia nord-occidentale : considerazioni tipologiche ed analisi archeometriche

In questo studio sono state integrate osservazioni tipologiche, condotte su forme a vernice nera rinvenute a Palermo, Termini Imerese, Monte Iato e Marineo, con i dati ricavati dalla caratterizzazione mineralogica, petrografica e chimica degli impasti. I 55 campioni selezionati appartengono a due forme : un piatto («Lamboglia 36 » , serie 1310-1320 di J.-P. Morel), tra i più comuni nella Campana A di I e II secolo a. C. ; ed una coppa di produzione locale o regionale, attestata (fine IV-III secolo a. C.) in insediamenti della Sicilia nord-occidentale, che è stata utilizzata anche come «gruppo di riferimento » chimicopetrografico. Sono stati distinti due gruppi composizionali, da ascrivere u…

LATE ROMAN COOKING WARES FROM NORA (SARDINIA): INTERIM ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ARCHAEOMETRICAL STUDY.

This contribution aims to present the interim results of an archaeological and archaeometric research on the cooking wares from the central quarter of Nora (Cagliari, Sardinia) where a team from the University of Milano identified several Late Roman residences. The morphological analysis of the different groups has put in evidence a low variation of the types except for their size. The archaeometrical data show that most of the analysed materials may correspond to a local or regional production (with certain degree of variation) of cooking wares widely used in Nora in the Late Roman Period. It is important to stress that petrographic analysis shows that the compositional characteristics of …

Ceramiche da fuoco tardoantiche da Dyrrachion (Albania): un primo approccio morfologico ed archeometrico