An archaeometric approach to gain knowledge on technology and provenance of Apulian red-figured pottery from Taranto

Abstract

(fifth to fourth century BC) coming from Taranto\ud (Italy) was analyzed by a multi-technique approach. The ceramic\ud bodies’ elemental composition has been obtained by\ud inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS),\ud the mineralogical composition of pastes by polarized-light\ud optical and electron microscopies (OM and SEM-EDS), and\ud X-ray powder diffraction (PXRD). The results obtained from\ud the statistical treatment of compositional data, combined with\ud those driven from mineralogical composition of pastes, allow\ud to formulate hypotheses about the provenance of the objects\ud and the manufacturing tradition of the workshops, starting to\ud make it possible to understand the relationships among ceramic\ud technology, artistic expression, and workshop practice in\ud the samples analyzed

Exploring the raw materials and technological practice to obtain red and black surfaces of Apulian red figure pottery by Raman and SEM‐EDS investigations

“…The newly formed phases—pyroxenes and gehlenite—found in the ceramic bodies of all vases support this hypothesis. [ 4–7,45,46 ]…”

“…The obtained results, furthermore, allow to widen the range of procedures used by Apulian potters to color red the surface of whitish/grayish vases realized with local clayey raw materials: miltos (ferruginous water) treatment and the application of a clayey layer added with Fe oxides in Daunia are added to the engobe, present in Peucetia and Messapia. [ 5–7 ] An ochre wash to heighten the red color of the ceramic body is the only method—to the author's knowledge—reported in literature for Attic pottery. [ 12 ]…”

“…Sites and finds have been extensively studied from an archeological point of view, [5][6][7]45,46] and reference is made to the papers cited for all the archeological information.…”

“…The same features, both structural and compositional, were highlighted for all Apulian red figure pottery analyzed so far. [4][5][6][7]45,46] In some samples, characterized by compact and well vitrified black gloss, Raman analysis also results in signals that can be associated to corundum (Al 2 O 3 ) (Figure 1). Its presence has never so far been highlighted in red figure black gloss, whereas it was detected by some scholars [60,61] in the vitreous matrix of Terra Sigillata red slip in the form of nanometric, homogeneously dispersed crystals.…”

“…In almost all Apulian sites investigated up to this moment, [ 4–7 ] however, pottery realized with a different process have also been found and dated to the Late period. Their ceramic bulk and surface differ in color, the former being whitish/grayish while the latter being dark red.…”