La ceramica comune, le anfore e i laterizi: caratteristiche tecniche ed identificazione delle provenienze.

Abstract

This paper deals with the analysis of 51 ceramic samples selected from a larger number between the findings coming from the Scauri’s late Roman wreck. The samples, represented by daily use pottery (table ware, cooking ware), transport amphorae, tiles and bricks, were analyzed by means of thin-section petrography. The observations of thin-sections by the polarizing microscope was focused on the paste description as well as on the identification of compositional and/or textural makers to be used for recognizing the area of provenance (production center) of the ceramic objects. Therefore, features such as mineralogy, packing, size distribution and morphology of the aplastic grains were pointed out. In relation to the cooking ware, most of the analyzed sample were confirmed to be local manufactures consequently falling in the renowned class called “Pantellerian ware”. In contrast, two samples of cooking ware were unpredictably assigned to the island of Ischia or more broadly to the Gulf of Naples thank to the presence of very peculiar minerals and rock fragments in the sand temper perfectly fitting with the volcanic products of this area. It is important to underline that the same provenance was recognized in the case of further samples even belonging to diverse functional classes. An eastern Mediterranean provenance was established for a group of transport amphorae in excellent agreement with the archaeological hypotheses. At the same time several amphora and common ware samples were recognized as North Africa (Tunisia) productions. Finally some credible provenances from South-Western Spain, Western Sicily and South Italy (Calabria) were also documented.