Clays from the Bay of Naples (Italy): New insight on ancient and traditional ceramics

Bonis, Alberto De; Cultrone, Giuseppe; Grifa, Celestino; Langella, Alessio; Morra, Vincenzo

doi:10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2014.04.014

Cited by 61 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The occurrence of a residual calcite (ca. 4%; Table ) measured by thermogravimetric‐differential scanning calorimetric analyses permits estimating a firing temperature ranging from 800 to 850°C, in agreement with Grifa et al () and De Bonis et al ().…”

Section: Estimated Firing Temperaturessupporting

confidence: 88%

“…With regard to the HCC, the newly formed Ca‐silicates (e.g., gehlenite, diopside, anorthite) can be considered as thermal indicators for the estimation of firing temperatures achieved by the ceramic pastes. It is widely accepted that when firing temperatures are increased, calcite in base clays reacts with the Si‐ and Al‐rich phases to form Ca‐silicates, starting from approximately 850°C (Cultrone et al, ; De Bonis, Cultrone, Grifa, Langella, & Morra, ; Grifa et al, ).…”

Section: Estimated Firing Temperaturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Local production and imitations of Late Roman pottery from a well in the Roman necropolis of Cuma in Naples, Italy

et al. 2018

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Archaeological excavations performed in a funerary complex in Cuma (Campania region, Italy) unearthed excellently preserved common wares dated to the third century A.D. Archaeometric analyses were focused on Campanian pitchers, Aegean‐like cooking pots, and pyriform pitchers, the latter recorded for the first time in an Italian context. The local pitchers were manufactured with a high‐CaO clay (CaO = ca. 12 wt.%) and local volcanic temper, fired at ca. 800–850°C, as suggested by the presence of calcite. The Aegean‐like pots and the pyriform pitchers were made with low‐CaO clay (CaO ≤ 4.0 wt.%) mixed with a calcite‐bearing temper, along with volcanic and siliciclastic grains, and fired at 800–950°C. The comparison with raw materials inferred that local vessels were made with low‐CaO basinal clays which outcrop in the northern Campania region, and sands from the shoreline north of Cuma where carbonate, siliciclastic and volcanic phases mix together. Our results suggest that the Phlegraean Late Roman workshops produced their traditional vases along with imitations of Aegean‐like pottery. Thus, microregional production responded to a market demand requiring shapes and styles similar to imports from the eastern Mediterranean, with which commercial trade was still quite active.

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Section: Estimated Firing Temperaturessupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Estimated Firing Temperaturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local production and imitations of Late Roman pottery from a well in the Roman necropolis of Cuma in Naples, Italy

et al. 2018

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“…On the other hand, the occurrence of a considerable amount of volcanic glass in CA pottery was also inferred from the background noise seen with XRPD (Figure ), thus supporting the hypothesis of a weathered pyroclastic used in the mix. Instead, the sporadic presence of quartz and calcite bioclasts would reveal the presence of Ischia clay (De Bonis et al., ) in CA samples. Furthermore, the occurrence of microcrystalline calcite bands can be due to the incomplete blending of the two materials and would be another indication of the use of calcareous Ischia clay.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Minero‐petrographic techniques represent a well‐established approach for archaeometric studies, successfully used to investigate provenance and technological features of pottery and other materials produced with geologic resources (e.g., Maggetti, ; Balassone et al., ; Gonzales, Arakawa, & Koening, ). These methods enabled a detailed characterization of several pottery productions from the Campania region of southern Italy (Grifa et al., , , ; De Bonis et al., ; Guarino et al., ) and associated raw materials (Grifa et al., ; De Bonis et al., , ). A minero‐petrographic approach allowed us, in close cooperation with archaeologists, to draw important hypotheses on pottery production and circulation in the Bay of Naples (Chiarazzo, Langella, & Morra, ; Grifa et al., , , ; Morra et al., ; Greco et al., ; Munzi et al., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distinctive Volcanic Material for the Production of Campana A Ware: The Workshop Area of Neapolis at the Duomo Metro Station in Naples, Italy

et al. 2016

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Recent transportation infrastructure works in Naples, Italy, provided important discoveries related to the production of pottery in the Hellenistic workshop area of Piazza Nicola Amore. A minero-petrographic investigation was conducted on 35 samples belonging to the widespread Campana A ware and production indicators (clayey raw materials, unfired Graeco-Italic amphorae, kiln wastes, workshop tools). Additional analysis was conducted on black-glaze and common ware samples for comparison. The analyses reveal compositional and technological homogeneity of Campana A ware. Samples are characterized by low CaO content with evidence of both volcanic and sedimentary components, suggesting that different clay sources were properly mixed to prepare a standard recipe. Production indicators, black-glaze and common wares, have a composition well consistent with the calcareous clays from the island of Ischia. Leucite- and garnet-bearing temper from the Somma Volcano were used for the preparation of coarse-grained pastes, unfired Graeco-Italic amphorae, and clayey raw materials, thus suggesting that they represented the clay sources for amphorae production. Our results reveal new technological and socioeconomic aspects of Hellenistic pottery production in the Bay of Naples, in particular for the Campana A ware, now representing a new reference group: Neapolis

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“…The presence or the absence of specific mineral assemblages can be used to determine the degree of thermal transformation undergone by the clay paste at the temperature and atmosphere applied during the firing procedure. Consequently, this information can be used to establish the firing conditions (temperature, atmosphere, time) achieved by potters during the operation of the kilns (Rathossi et al 2010;Issi et al 2011;Kramar et al 2012;Matau et al 2013;Ballirano et al 2014;Compana et al 2014;De Bonis et al 2014;Holakooei et al 2014). The results can reveal either the presence of primary minerals representative of their raw materials or the crystallization of new high-temperature minerals which are the product of reactions between the decomposed primary minerals as the temperature increases.…”

Section: X-ray Powder Diffraction Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the archaeointensity determination success of prehistoric ceramics through a multidisciplinary approach: new and re-evaluated data from Greek collections

Kondopoulou¹,

Gómez‐Paccard

Aidona³

et al. 2017

Geophysical Journal International

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S U M M A R YThe Balkan area provides an almost continuous record of the geomagnetic field variations during the last eight millennia but important data dispersion and chronological gaps are still observed. In order to improve this pattern, we oriented our research towards the study of Greek prehistoric ceramics and pottery collections. We present here new archaeointensity and mineralogical results from pottery and ceramics collected in two Bronze Age sites in Northern Greece, corresponding to the middle third and middle second millennium BC. Thermal demagnetization experiments, thermomagnetic curves, thermal demagnetization measurements of three axes composite isothermal magnetization and first-order reversal curves (FORC) diagrams were performed in order to define the main magnetic carriers and select the most promising samples for archaeointensity determination. The results suggest that the majority of the studied materials are dominated by a mixture of superparamagnetic and stable single domain grains, with very little magnetic interactions. In almost all samples the main magnetic carrier observed is a low coercivity mineral, most probably magnetite and/or Ti-magnetite. Classical Thellier experiments, including both the thermoremanent magnetization anisotropy and cooling rate corrections were performed on the selected samples. Two new archaeointensities were obtained and compared with previous data available for Greece and neighbouring countries and with global geomagnetic field models results. In order to investigate the causes of the high rate of failure observed in our archaeointensity experiments, we re-examined the results obtained from the study of four collections already published by better characterizing the magnetic and mineralogical properties of the studied fragments. Specific hysteresis curves performed at different layers of ceramic fragments reveal an important degree of inhomogeneity. Mineralogical analysis of selected samples from the totality of six Greek prehistoric sites studied, including new X-ray powder diffraction analysis and a detailed description of the different geological contexts, is provided. The results suggest that the sherds were all fired in medium-high temperatures (mostly between 500• and 800• C). The nature of the baked clay paste in response to the local geology appears to account for a part of the variability in magnetic properties. We suggest that X-ray powder diffraction analyses and thorough examination of the geological environment in combination with a satisfactory knowledge of the corresponding excavations history might provide an additional tool to appropriately select pottery fragments before performing future archaeointensity experiments.

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Clays from the Bay of Naples (Italy): New insight on ancient and traditional ceramics

Cited by 61 publications

References 33 publications

Local production and imitations of Late Roman pottery from a well in the Roman necropolis of Cuma in Naples, Italy

Local production and imitations of Late Roman pottery from a well in the Roman necropolis of Cuma in Naples, Italy

Distinctive Volcanic Material for the Production of Campana A Ware: The Workshop Area of Neapolis at the Duomo Metro Station in Naples, Italy

Investigating the archaeointensity determination success of prehistoric ceramics through a multidisciplinary approach: new and re-evaluated data from Greek collections

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