Pompeian red ware: Processing archaeological ceramic data

Abstract

A program of ceramic analysis, by which archaeologically excavated pottery can be efficiently and economically grouped by fabric and geographic origin, has been devised. the fabric is segregated by xeroradiography, macroscopic observation, and heavy‐mineral analysis before it is identified petrologically. the program has enabled determination of the effects of certain aspects of trade patterns and economics on life in the ancient city of Roman‐Period Caesarea Maritima. This program was tested on an 84‐sherd corpus of Pompeian Red Ware. Xeroradiography, heavy‐mineral analysis, and petrology each segregated the sherds into two fabrics, one of which contained 83 sherds. This latter fabric had not been reported in earlier studies of Pompeian Red Ware which concentrated on samples from England and Europe. However, the similarities between this new fabric and another known fabric suggest that the Caecuban and Falernian regions west of Terracina and east of Capua should be the source of this ware. an astonishing result was that other known fabrics were not found at Caesarea Maritima. A potential chronological hypothesis was formulated to account for this observation.

X-Radiography of Knossian Bronze Age Vessels: Assessing our Knowledge of Primary Forming Techniques

“…The advantages inherent in radiography make it a formidable analytical tool for ceramic specialists: (1) it is a non-destructive technique; (2) it permits investigation of sherds and complete vessel; (3) it can be done comparatively rapidly and cheaply; and (4) suitable medical or industrial facilities are available in many places. As a consequence, radiography has established itself as an apt complementary technique for conventional destructive and smallscale provenance analysis (Blakely et al 1989;Maniatis et al 1984). However, its greatest advantage lies in its ability to complement visual inspection.…”

Looking through pots: recent advances in ceramics X-radiography

“…fabric characterisation and identification of forming techniques) both require the imaging of inclusions, it is important to be aware of the factors involved in determining their greatest clarity on X-rays. Many scholars have grappled with this issue indirectly when utilising radiography to identify different fabric groups (Adan-Bayewitz and Wieder, 1992;Bennett et al, 1989;Blakely et al, 1989;Braun, 1982;Carr, 1990Carr, , 1993Middleton, 1995), but only few have approached this issue systematically through experiments (Carr and Komorowski, 1991;Foster, 1985). Foster (1985) tested the visibility of crushed grog, seeds, straw, wood, coral, sponge, insects, snail, clam, sea urchin, mussel, scallop, murex, several gastropods, limestone, granite, alluvial magnetite and quartz in two synthetic and one natural clay.…”

Pompeian Red Ware in Roman London: Insights on Pottery Consumption in Colonial Environments

“…Peacock's fabric one was sourced in the volcanic district between Etruria and Campania, whilst fabric three was described as a Central-Gaulish imitation that particularly flourished during the first and second century A.D. The general picture emerging from the latest studies (Blakely et al 1989;Peña 1990;Morra et al 2013) is of a late Republican production that spread in the Italian peninsula during the first century B.C. and that was soon decentralised with a series of provincial imitations, amongst which the Gaulish products acquired importance, especially in supplying Britain.…”