Comparative pottery technology between the Middle Ages and Modern times (Santarém, Portugal)

Abstract

Combining historical, archaeological and experimental data, traditional and archaeological ceramics, from the Santarém district, with different chronology and functions have been studied. Our aim is to understand ancient pottery technology and to evaluate whether ceramic production followed similar principles in the Middle Ages (from the Islamic to the Christian domination) and Modern times. Moreover, traditional ceramics, knowing the productive process, have been used as a tool to interpret ancient pottery technology. We considered different utilitarian ceramic groups, namely fire, table and food-liquid container wares. Through the combination of optical microscopy (OM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) with physical and mechanical tests, it has been possible to collect valuable information regarding pottery manufacturing, considering the age and the object function. Moreover, it is also considered the effect of raw materials mixing and ceramic paste preparation on ceramics final characteristics. Our results indicate that both during the Middle Ages and in Modern times, technical expertise played, and still play, a fundamental role in the creation of a specific object. In this specific case, behavioural and socio-cultural factor drove ceramists' decision when selecting between different technological solutions, and every decision or technical choice is/was taken depending on the functional and performance characteristics desired for a specific artefact. This happened during the Middle Ages, and is still happening nowadays for the production of traditional ceramics in the district of Santarém, Portugal.

The Islamic Ceramic of the Santarém Alcaçova: Raw Materials, Technology, and Trade

“…The alluvial plain located in front of the town (total width approximately 10 km), on the left side of the river, is composed of modern deposits (A, a, Ad, As) and Pleistocene alluvial terraces (Q, Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4). An extended geological description of the area can be found elsewhere (Beltrame et al 2020).…”

“…In the Garb al-Andalus, raw material characteristics and selection methodologies for local ceramic productions are almost unknown. In this framework, the local natural resources characterization is the best solution to understand pottery technology, to establish similarity in ceramic tradition (Beltrame et al 2020), and to identify imported goods. This study aims to understand these selection criteria concerning the choice and use of raw materials and to define technological characteristics to address provenance issues in the town of Santarém.…”

Para Cozinhar...: As Panelas Da Cerâmica Paulista

“…A vasilha onde o maná foi colhido (Figura 7 b, c) representa uma das morfologias apropriadas pelas Tupiniquim no século XVI e, posteriormente, produzida e transformada por mulheres até o presente (Figura 7 d). Trata-se de uma forma representada em uma pintura de c.1511 para ornar uma igreja, mas que seria usada há mais tempo como revelam evidências arqueométricas e etnográ cas portuguesas, permitindo a conclusão de que "desde a Idade Média, as cerâmicas foram produzidas seguindo critérios especí cos e que a expertise tecnológica antiga continua válida até os dias de hoje" (BELTRAME et al, 2020). A vasilha com alças de Staden (Figura 7 a, f) oferece dupla possibilidade, podendo ser tanto europeia, quanto uma panela da Cerâmica Paulista, cujos destaques ampliam a representação de Staden e o per l proposto por Brochado (1991, Figura 7 e).…”

Lime and Cement Plasters from 20th Century Buildings: Raw Materials and Relations between Mineralogical–Petrographic Characteristics and Chemical–Physical Compatibility with the Limestone Substrate

“…The raw materials, the calcination technologies and the building techniques evolved in different ways from one locality to another, leading each place to obtain its own style and best practices [2]. A plethora of papers deals with historical mortars, stones, and other geomaterials, with all of their related aspects, including archaeological inferences and significance [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14], raw materials provenance [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24], the chemical, mineralogical and physical properties [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32], degradation issues [33][34][35][36][37][38], and conservation/restoration techniques [39][40][41][42][43][44][45].…”