Fifty-six sherds of fine ware from Locri Epizephiri were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICPOES) andjame emission spectroscopy (FES).The sherds had been excavated on the archaeological areas of Marasci Sud, Centocamere and San Cono, and represent local and imported products f r o m the seventh to the second century BC. The samples were dissolved by fusion with lithium metaborate and analysed f o r nine elements (Al, Fe, Ca, M g , Ti, Mn, Sr, Ba and Cr) by ICPOES, while N a and K were determined by FES. The analytical data were subjected to hierarchical agglomerative clustering and principal components analysis to classify the sherds into compositional groups. The results obtained indicated that Corinthian, Attic and Ionian products or imitations ma-v be classijied in a few separate groups, while most local products are found in a unique, large group.

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In the important locality of Locri Epizephiri, many types of ceramics have been found. Besides clearly imported pieces of Attic and Corinthian style, others have been gathered, whose local manufacturing appeared as very probable, but not sure. In order to solve this problem, spectroanalytical methods were used able to "mark" the different types of ceramics. Some more or less defined clusters of point have been identified, corresponding to stylistically defined groups of ceramics. We also tried to establish if any chemical fractionation could occur during the thermal treatment, as well as during the burial period, working with simulated kilns and simulating hard weathering conditions : it seems that no detectable fractionation occured for Zr, Cr and Ti .