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The present study aims to understand the reasons for the visual differences of black gloss pottery found in northern Etruria. The results obtained by conventional (scanning electron microscope, electron microprobe) and synchrotron (X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy) techniques indicate that the thickness, porosity or chemical composition of the different types of gloss cannot be used as the principal distinguishing factor. The size of quartz or feldspar crystals may well be a critical factor responsible for the matt effect in some samples, while the range of mixtures of iron compounds indicated by XRD and XAS could be the reason for differences in colour and reflectivity. The Fe L‐edge XAS results in particular show that a correlation does exist between the oxidation state characteristics and the visual appearance. The Si, Fe and Al contents seem to further discriminate the different types of gloss that have differing visual appearances.

SEM–EDS, EMPA, ICP–MS and ICP–OES were applied to the study of three sectilia panels made of red, orange and yellow glass slabs. In order to determine the chemical state of Cu, XAS was also performed. The results indicate that, with the exception of the red samples, all slabs were made by mixing a siliceous sand with natron. The red slabs show significant compositional differences with respect to K2O and MgO contents, probably linked to the use of plant ashes as a source of alkali. The red, orange and yellow slabs are coloured by metallic copper, cuprite and Pb antimonates, respectively. The comparison between the chemical composition of the Faragola samples and several glass reference groups did not provide conclusive evidence of provenance.

The pigments and the plasters of the Roman frescoes discovered at the House of Diana (Cosa, Grosseto, Italy) were analysed using non-destructive and destructive mineralogical and chemical techniques. The characterization of both pigments and plasters was performed through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis. The pigments were identified by Raman spectroscopy and submitted to stable isotope analysis. The results were integrated with the archaeological data in order to determine and reconstruct the provenance, trade patterns and the employment of the raw materials used for the elaboration of the frescoes.The Roman colony of Cosa (Grosseto, Italy) was founded in 273 BC, in order to control the newly acquired Etruscan territories of Vulci. Located over a headland (114 m above sea level) along the southern coast of Tuscany ( Fig. 1), the town was serviced by one of the main harbours facing the Thyrrenian sea, Portus Cosanus. From the first century BC to the first century AD, huge villas flourished in the countryside of the colony, causing the progressive disappearance of small properties. This process transferred a great part of the economic interests to the countryside and resulted in the decline of the town in the second century AD.The archaeological site has been the object of several archaeological investigations, mainly conducted by the American Academy in Rome (Brown et al. 1951Brown 1960Brown , 1980Bruno and Scott 1993). From 1990 to 1997, research concentrated on the 'atrium building V' discovered by F. E. Brown, which is now the focus of a systematic excavation and studies directed by E. Fentress.Situated along the southern side of the forum plaza, the 'atrium building V' was built during the first three decades of the second century BC, but for inexplicable reasons was temporarily abandoned after 71 BC. The causes of this event, which struck the entire colony during the final decades of the first century BC, have been researched by Brown et al. (1951), who attributes it to pirate raids, while Fentress (2003) has argued that another possible explanation could be the *

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