Earth Sciences

The Gran Potenza clay and the Pomici di Avellino pyroclastics, respectively the clay sediments and temper of the typical ceramic manufacture in Benevento area (Italy), were mixed in different proportion and fired at 850°, 900° and 950 °C. These experimental replicas were compared with historical ceramic products of Benevento. The similarities and/or differences between archaeological materials and replicas (in terms of amount of temper, firing temperature, pore system, etc.) have been discussed. The whole data confirm the wide utilization of the local available clayey raw material and the Pomici di Avellino, and give a new contribution on the petrophysical modifications of volcanic-rich ceramic pastes that occur in the firing temperature range comprised between 850° and 950 °C. Some peculiar features in the historical manufacturing are also reported.

Mineralogical and petrographical studies on 23 ancient pottery fragments of terra sigillata from ancient Cales (today Calvi Risorta, Caserta) are here discussed. Stamps on pottery surfaces assigned the fragments to Cales and other Italian workshops acting in Arezzo and Northern Italy area between 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D., other stamped fragments have an uncertain provenance. The mineralogical and petrographical features of pastes have been detected using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and DTA-DTG analyses. The geochemical comparisons among ceramics, production indicators of Calenian pottery (Black Glazed pottery spacers) and local clayey raw materials allowed to distinguish locally produced potsherds from imported ones. Moreover, the whole archaeological and archaeometric data set allowed to draw main technological aspects of a fine ware production much used on rich roman tables.

We performed petrophysical analyses on 34 clayey samples of different geological origin within the Campania region of Italy in order to determine possible sources of raw materials used to produce ancient pottery. Possible raw material sources can be grouped into high-CaO clays (HCC) and low-CaO clays (LCC). HCC are mainly represented by more recent (Miocene-Pleistocene) basinal sediments whereas LCC tend to be associated with basinal, alluvial, and pyroclastic deposits. A chemical comparison between clayey raw materials, modern ceramic replicas, and Campanian archaeological ceramics of several typologies (common ware, cooking ware, fine tableware, amphorae, and bricks) from 8th century B.C. to the Middle Ages (a total of 350 ceramic samples) indicates that HCC were extensively used for common wares and that these were either mixed with temper or levigated. In contrast, most of the LCC were used for the production of cookware. We also analyzed the technological potential of the sampled raw materials, taking into consideration their actual and possible uses. We observed that most HCC deposits were well suited for tableware and amphorae, whereas LCC were better for cookware and some fine tableware.

LARGE PROTOHISTORIC IMPASTO DOLIA FROM CENTRAL-SOUTHERN CALABRIA. CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF
TYPOLOGY, CHRONOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY AND FUNCTION - A high number of fragments of large protohistoric impasto pithoi has
been found in several sites in the area, and mainly in Serre di Altilia (central Calabria). These fragments have been
studied with other pithoi from Tropea (southern Calabria), in order to reconstruct their forms, typology, chronology,
technology and function. It has been possible to define five types, with chronologies that may vary from the Final
Bronze to the Early Iron Age, and with parallels in several sites of Southern Italy, in Sicily and at Lipari. Petrografic
analyses on fragments from Central Calabria have shown a quite variable production, locally and/or regionally made.
Chemical analyses have been also performed on two residue samples, in order to identify what kind of foodstuff was
originally stored in these pithoi. The results of the analyses show the presence of terpenoid resins, such as Pistacia or
Pinus, which may suggest the presence of wine.

The features of two clayey raw materials from the Bay of Naples and their fired products were investigated via minero-petrographic and physical techniques.
Clay preparation and firing dynamics were performed following a process similar to that performed by ancient and traditional potters. A high-CaO marine clay from Ischia was mixed with different amounts of volcanic temper in order to replicate most common ware. These mixtures show a fair mechanical resistance starting from relatively low firing temperatures (>850 °C). The addition of temper resulted in different technological characteristics. A low-CaO weathered pyroclastics from the Sorrento Peninsula was prepared to simulate heat resistant and refractory ceramics. Fired products are characterised by a less resistant ceramic body up to 1000 °C compared to Ischia ceramics. Despite worse strength these ceramics show a porous structure, yielding better refractory performances.

The ancient town of Allifae (modern Alife) represents one of the most interesting settlements of the Northern Campania area that, together with the ancient city of Cales, was a thriving
production centre of pottery. Excavations carried out inside the city wall, near the south gate, the so-called Porta Fiume, unearthed a huge dump of thin walled ware where the most abundant forms were cups and beakers, decorated with grooves or rouletting. The dump has been dated
Augustan/ early Tiberian age (20 b.C.- 20 AD) and the thin walled vessels found can be identified with similar wares from Allifae, Cubulteria, Caiatia and perhaps Neapolis. Horace in
his Sermones (II, 8,39) cited the Allifana beakers (described as fictiles ac subtiles by a Horace scholiast) and they could possibly be identified with the thin walled wares produced in Allifae.
If this the case, then the thin walled vessels produced in Allifae were known in Rome as early as the end of I century B.C. In order to investigate and characterise the Allifae thin-walled pottery, twenty-one samples were selected and mineralogical-petrographic analyses (OM, XRPD, XRF and SEM/EDS) were carried out. The clayey raw material used was a low-CaO alluvial
clayey deposit from the Middle Valley of the Volturno River. The potters probably handled the sediment by a levigation process in order to remove the coarser grains, and making the clay
suitable to produce such thin walls. Comparison with other regional production of thin-walled pottery allowed us to strictly distinguish the Allifana beakers.

ABSTRACT We performed petrophysical analyses on 34 clayey samples of different geological origin within the Campania region of Italy in order to determine possible sources of raw materials used to produce ancient pottery. Possible raw material sources can be grouped into high-CaO clays (HCC) and low-CaO clays (LCC). HCC are mainly represented by more recent (Miocene-Pleistocene) basinal sediments whereas LCC tend to be associated with basinal, alluvial, and pyroclastic deposits. A chemical comparison between clayey raw materials, modern ceramic replicas, and Campanian archaeological ceramics of several typologies (common ware, cooking ware, fine tableware, amphorae, and bricks) from 8th century B.C. to the Middle Ages (a total of 350 ceramic samples) indicates that HCC were extensively used for common wares and that these were either mixed with temper or levigated. In contrast, most of the LCC were used for the production of cookware. We also analyzed the technological potential of the sampled raw materials, taking into consideration their actual and possible uses. We observed that most HCC deposits were well suited for tableware and amphorae, whereas LCC were better for cookware and some fine tableware.

This study deals with the characterization of ancient hydraulic mortars from the Piscina Mirabilis, the Roman Cistern of Miseno (1st century B.C.) in Campania, Italy. This research was performed in collaboration with archeologists and Superintendence of Archeological Heritage of Campania. Results confirmed that the Roman engineers extensively used coarse tuff aggregate, hydrated lime fresh water, and cocciopesto. The typical mineralogical association of phillipsite > chabazite > analcime, points out the provenance of the tuff aggregate from the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff (NYT), which is the product of a Phlegraen fields eruption dating back to about 15,000 years ago. Extremely interesting is the composition of the cementiceous binding matrix, with the ontemporary presence of gel-like C-S-A-H, calcite, gypsum and finally tobermorite.

Colorimetry and accelerated aging tests were performed on ceramics prepared using two clays from the Bay of Naples (Ischia and Sorrento Peninsula). Visible-near infrared spectroscopy was applied in order to acquire further information on color and composition of ceramics. Different mix designs and firing dynamics were adopted in order to provide information on the control of aesthetic features of ancient building ceramics.
Color depends on firing temperature and physical-chemical composition of the raw materials. Low-CaO concentration provided a more intense reddish hue at high temperatures (over 950 °C). Black core developed in high-CaO ceramic samples fired at low temperatures, except for those containing high temper amounts.
Salt crystallization test showed that high-CaO ceramics are more durable starting from relatively low firing temperatures (over 850 °C).