Hellenistic Glazed Wares From Athens and Southern Italy: Analytical Techniques and Implications

Abstract

S The original intention of the project, conceived in the context of the British School at Rome's excavation and survey programme in the Bradano basin (based on Gravina) was to establish the composition patterns of Hellenistic glazed wares from sites in southern Apulia, and then to use these to trace the trading patterns of the area, against a control group of sherds from the Athenian Agora. It proved possible to distinguish Attic from Apulian sherds by their nickel and chromium content, and average‐link‐cluster‐analysis by computer showed that Gnathian ware from Taranto could be distinguished from seven other south Italian groups, suggesting that speciality wares were made of clays from special beds. Because of the geological homogeneity of the area no further distinctions could be made, but some sherds were also analysed petrologically and by heavy mineral analysis, for a methodological comparison. The very homogeneous geology, coupled with the fineness of the wares showed these methods to be at the limits of their usefulness. Only very generalized conclusions could be drawn concerning the origin of the pottery from the petrological evidence; the micro‐mineralogical data showed that interesting differences existed between pottery from the main Apulian sites, but these could equally have reflected natural variations occurring within fairly homogeneous clay deposits.

A Scientific Investigation on the Provenance and Technology of a Black‐figure Amphora Attributed to the Priam Group*

“…The mean vase composition was compared with published data on sherds of Attic black‐gloss and red‐figure pottery, selecting papers that report large sets of elements (Prag et al . 1974; Hatcher et al .…”

The Effect of Purification and Firing of Clays on Trace Element Provenance Studies

“…The most secure approach suggested, however, is the comparison of the group under question with natural clays from the area where the site of interest is located. This has been discussed extensively by several authors (Boardman and Schweizer 1973, Prag et al 1974, Wilson 1978, Attas 1982. Rutter (1975) considers that the determination of pottery provenance is not valid unless a clay bed with the same composition pattern of the fired pottery vessel is identified.…”

Moessbauer Spectroscopic, Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Iberian Pottery

“…The above arguments are invalid if the CaC03 crystallized in the sherd during its prolonged (Prag et al 1974, Maggetti and Kuepfer 1978, Grimanis et al 1980, Pbrinet, de Contenson and Courtois 1980. However, petrographic evidence shows the calcite to be primary, not secondary.…”