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Elemental analysis of ancient ceramics is primarily used in provenance research, where defined compositional groups are attributed to particular raw materials sources or production locations. Requirements in data quality and analytical performance are high, as is the need for clear and reproducible methodologies, and the availability of information on the above to ensure interlaboratory comparability and long-term data validity. This paper outlines the measurement parameters of a dedicated calibration set-up for the analysis of ancient ceramics using wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WDXRF). The specimens are prepared as concentrated glass beads, allowing the measurement of 26 elements from a single sample, thus minimising sample size requirements. Certified and non-commercial standards are used to evaluate the performance of the method in terms of detection limits, precision, repeatability, and accuracy. The materials used cover a range of compositions in line with the matrix variability encountered in archaeological ceramics. The data confirm the high standard of the method and highlight specific limitations. An initial assessment of comparability with other set-ups used in ceramic analyses, primarily Neutron Activation Analysis, is given through a discussion of performance on commonly analysed materials. The advantages of the proposed method include excellent analytical performance, analysis of a large suite of elements including all major, minor and a good range of traces, relatively small sample sizes, and preparation of samples that can be stored and re-analysed.

The Punic Amphora Building (PAB) at Corinth, Greece, excavated in the late 1970s and dated to the mid 5th century BC, provided a remarkable archaeological context for the study of trade connections between Classical Corinth and the Punic West, based on the finding of hundreds of Punic amphorae and associated fish remains. The first studies indicated that these amphorae were mostly imported from the Straits of Gibraltar region, although the exact area/s of provenance remained undetermined. The recent macroscopic restudy of these amphorae suggested the existence of several fabrics, most probably associated with different production sites in southern Spain and/or northern Morocco. In order to verify this hypothesis, a provenance analysis of this material was performed. A total of 178 amphorae from Corinth's PAB were analysed through a combination of thin section petrography and elemental analysis by WD-XRF. Further information was obtained from the analysis of reference materials from production areas, including amphorae from known Punic kiln sites in the western Mediterranean and associated potential raw materials for ceramic production. The results indicated that Punic Gadir, present-day Cádiz, was the main supplier of salt-fish which was packaged in amphorae and shipped to Corinth in the 5th century BC, although other Punic sites, especially those located on the coast of present-day Málaga province, also participated in these commercial interactions. The results of this research are of particular importance for the study of longdistance trade networks between the eastern and the western Mediterranean in the Classical period.

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The diverse forms of regional connectivity in the ancient world have recently become an important focus for those interested in the deep history of globalisation. This volume represents a significant contribution to this new trend as it engages thematically with a wide range of connectivities in the later prehistory of the Mediterranean, from the later Neolithic of northern Greece to the Levantine Iron Age, and with diverse forms of materiality, from pottery and metal to stone and glass. With theoretical overviews from leading thinkers in prehistoric mobilities, and commentaries from top specialists in neighbouring domains, the volume integrates detailed case studies within a comparative framework. The result is a thorough treatment of many of the key issues of regional interaction and technological diversity facing archaeologists working across diverse places and periods. As this book presents key case studies for human and technological mobility across the eastern Mediterranean in later prehistory, it will be of interest primarily to Mediterranean archaeologists, though also to historians and anthropologists.