Le produzioni fittili tra il bronzo antico ed il bronzo medio nell' area Toscana e l'influenza delle risorse naturali locali sulle tecniche di fabricazione e sulle caratteristiche dei manufatti

Master erasmus mundus em quaternario e pré-história”As produções cerâmicas entre Antiga Idade do Bronze e Média Idade do Bronze na área da Toscânia e a influência dos recursos naturais...As características tecnológicas desoa para a realação, quer na Idade sucessivos períodos disponibilidade desta matéria primeira, juntamente com a vasta difusão de cerâmica feita com este material, indicam, desde a Idade do Bronze, escolhas tecnológicas muito cuidadosas, uma difusão das conhecenças tecnológicas e uma conhecença pormenorizada do terreno a nível regional

Micro Destructive Analysis for the Characterization of Ancient Mortars: A Case Study from the Little Roman Bath of Nora (Sardinia, Italy)

In this work, a protocol of a partially invasive sampling for the archaeometric characteri- zation of ancient mortars from the little Roman Bath of Nora (Sardinia, Italy) is presented. Optical microscopy and different analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, thermo- gravimetric analysis, and physical/mechanical tests have been carried out on the mortars. These analyses were performed to investigate the chemical composition, alteration products, and binder pozzolanic activity. An innovative method of image analysis has been tested to obtain information about the size and shape of both the mortar aggregates and the binder/aggregate ratio. This new particle-size analysis has two different advantages: (i) it saves a huge volume of material compared to a classic granulometric classification through its use of a sieve and (ii) is eco-friendly in respect to the environment by saving a large volume of liquid waste derived from the acid attack for the separation of the insoluble aggregate from the soluble binder, as would be done for a common sieving. Results show a local provenance of the aggregates. The use of two different limestones for the mortars’ binder production was detected and probably this raw material belongs to the nearby Roman town of Karales (current day Cagliari)

Losanga decorated Imitations of Italic Late Republican Black Gloss Tableware from South-Western Iberia: a Multi-analytical/Microchemical Characterization

Themicro-chemical/mineralogical composition of samples of grey-paste imitations of Italic Late Republican black gloss tableware displaying a particular kind of lozenge-shaped decoration (“Losanga pottery”) from Portuguese and Spanish archaeological sites in SWIberia has been analysed by BSEM + EDS, μXRD, Powder XRD, Portable XRF and μRaman spectroscopy. “Losanga” decorated ceramics have been found throughout theWestern Mediterranean. Most of the sherds display a green-brown to greyish-black engobe at the surface resembling the gloss found in Attic pottery from Classical Greece. The overall chemical, mineralogical and fossiliferous homogeneities of the ceramic paste show common features (low K-feldspar/plagioclase ratio, high Ca content, abundance of well-preserved fragments of foraminifera microfossils) that indicate low firing conditions in the kiln ranging from 650 to 900 °C. With respect to the ceramic body, analytical results confirm an enrichment in the surface gloss layer of iron, potassium and aluminium and a depletion in silicon and calcium; the very fine grain size of the surface coating suggests elutriation of iron oxide-rich clays as confirmed by the presence of magnetite, maghemite and goethite in μ-XRD scan. Chemical and mineralogical data also suggest that the firing process was performed in a 600–850 °C temperature range, adopting the well-known technique of alternating oxidizing and reducing firing conditions largely employed at the time. The analytical results, while compatible with the archaeological hypothesis of a common provenance of the raw materials for pottery production from the Guadalquivir valley workshops cannot be considered conclusive due to the similarity in the geological substrate in the two SW Iberian regions under study

O Tumulus 1 do Souto (Abrantes, Médio Tejo): Novos contributos para o conhecimento das materialidades do mundo funerário do Bronze Final no Centro de Portugal

O artigo apresenta e discute os resultados obtidos das análises arqueométricas realizadas sobre 4 fragmentos de metal, 1 fragmento de cerâmica de uma grande urna e sobre as marcas/incrustações encontradas na superfície de um pequeno púcaro procedentes de um contexto funerário de incineração atribuído ao Bronze Final (BF), o Tumulus 1 do Souto (Abrantes, Centro de Portugal). O sítio arqueológico e os materiais recuperados já foram publicados por um dos autores, mas o estudo arqueométrico dos materiais, em particular dos fragmentos de metais e das cerâmicas nunca foi efetuado. De acordo com uma abordagem multi-analítica recorreu-se a diversas técnicas analíticas, nomeadamente Espectrometria de Raios-X Portátil (pXRF), Microscopia Eletrónica de Varrimento acoplada a Detector de Raios-X por Dispersão de Energias (SEM-EDS), Microscopia óptica (MO) e Difração de Raios-X (XRD). Os resultados obtidos determinaram a proveniência da grande urna, provavelmente produzida com materiais encontrados num raio de 10-15 km do sítio arqueológico. A composição química e as características dos fragmentos de metal analisados indicam tratar-se de uma liga binária (Cu+Sn) com pequenas inclusões de elementos secundários como prata, arsénio e ferro. O estudo também evidenciou, na superfície do pequeno púcaro, a presença de uma patina metálica. A combinação dos dados arqueológicos e arqueométricos permitiu aumentar o conhecimento do estado da arte no contexto funerário de cremação com deposição em urna, típico da Idade do Bronze no Oeste da Península Ibérica, especialmente no médio Tejo

Comparative pottery technology between the Middle Ages and Modern times (Santarém, Portugal)

Combining historical, archaeological and experimental data, traditional and archaeological ceramics, from the Santarém district, with different chronology and functions have been studied. Our aim is to understand ancient pottery technology and to evaluate whether ceramic production followed similar principles in the Middle Ages (from the Islamic to the Christian domination) and Modern times. Moreover, traditional ceramics, knowing the productive process, have been used as a tool to interpret ancient pottery technology. We considered different utilitarian ceramic groups, namely fire, table and food-liquid container wares. Through the combination of optical microscopy (OM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) with physical and mechanical tests, it has been possible to collect valuable information regarding pottery manufacturing, considering the age and the object function. Moreover, it is also considered the effect of raw materials mixing and ceramic paste preparation on ceramics final characteristics. Our results indicate that both during the Middle Ages and in Modern times, technical expertise played, and still play, a fundamental role in the creation of a specific object. In this specific case, behavioural and socio-cultural factor drove ceramists’ decision when selecting between different technological solutions, and every decision or technical choice is/was taken depending on the functional and performance characteristics desired for a specific artefact. This happened during the Middle Ages, and is still happening nowadays for the production of traditional ceramics in the district of Santarém, Portugal

The Wooden Roof Framing Elements, Furniture and Furnishing of the Etruscan Domus of the Dolia of Vetulonia (Southern Tuscany, Italy)

The Etruscan Domus of the Dolia remained hidden until 2009, when archaeological excavations began in the Etruscan–Roman district of Vetulonia (Southern Tuscany). Based on the classification of the archaeological materials recovered, the destruction of the Domus and the Etruscan city of Vetulonia was traced back to the 1st century BC. The highly various and precious materials recovered inside the Domus revealed the richness of the building and its inhabitants. With this study, we present the anthracological analyses from the Domus of the Dolia. Wood charcoals were recovered from different house rooms, which had different functions based on the archaeological evidence. The tree species employed for the construction of the roof of the building were deciduous and semi-deciduous oak wood (Quercus sect. robur, Quercus sect. cerris) and silver fir wood (Abies cf. alba). Evergreen oak wood (Quercus sect. suber), boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), beech wood (Fagus cf. sylvatica), maple wood (Acer sp.) and cherry wood (Prunus cf. avium) were adopted for the furniture and furnishings of the house. Moreover, wood charcoal fragments of fruit trees belonging to the family of Rosaceae were identified, documenting a possible garden inside the court of the house. The study shows the use of the local tree species primarily. The silver fir wood and beech wood were likely sourced from the nearby (roughly 60 km) Mount Amiata

A NEW KIND OF GREEN AND MANGANESE DECORATED CERAMIC DISCOVERED IN ÉVORA

Évora revela, recentemente, noum espólio cerâmico bastante significativo e heterogéneo de cronologia medieval-islâmica. Neste espólio destaca-se uma tigela com uma técnica ornamental até agora nunca documentada na Península Ibérica. Ao expor e discutir os resultados do estudo estilístico e analítico efectuado sobre a peça, revelou-se a originalidade da técnica decorativa, caracterizada por uma cor de base castanho/castanho escuro sobre a qual está desenvolvida uma decoração em verde e branco. Este estudo pretende contribuir para um melhor conhecimento da cerâmica islâmica da Península Ibérica e, subsequentemente, do território português

Islamic copper-based metal artefacts from the Garb al-Andalus. A multidisciplinary approach on the Alcáçova of Martulah (Mértola, South of Portugal)

A multidisciplinary approach has been applied to investigate the production technology of a collection of copper-based artefacts found during archaeological excavation campaigns carried out in the Almohad neighbourhood of Martulah, the Islamic name of modern Mértola (South of Portugal). In stark contrast to other Islamic materials found in the same site such as common and finely decorated pottery, glass, and bone artefacts, metal objects have received less attention despite the high number of artefacts recovered. This study focuses on the chemical characterisation of 171 copper-based artefacts dating back to the 12th and the first half of the thirteenth centuries. The artefacts are daily use objects and consist of personal ornaments (earrings, rings, and casket ornaments), tools (spindles, spatulas, and oil lamp sticks) and artefacts with unknown functions. The analytical results by X-ray fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) provided information not only about technological issues but infer as well on the socio-economic implications of metal consumption in Islamic Mértola. Results revealed that metals were produced using a variety of Cu-based alloys, namely unalloyed copper, brasses (Cu + Zn), bronzes (Cu + Sn), and red brasses (Cu + Sn + Zn), with a variable concentration of Pb, without any apparent consistency, as a likely result of recurrent recycling and mixing scrap metals practices or use of mineral raw materials available locally

Mineral Carbonation of CO2 in Mafic Plutonic Rocks, I—Screening Criteria and Application to a Case Study in Southwest Portugal

This article describes the screening, ranking and characterization of ultramafic and mafic rocks in southern Portugal for mineral carbonation as an alternative to conventional CO2 storage in sedimentary rocks. A set of criteria including mineralogy, structure, surface area, distance to CO2 sources, expected volume, and socioeconomic conditions was applied to screen ultramafic and mafic rock massifs in the Alentejo region, southern Portugal. Ranking of the massifs indicated that the plutonic massifs of Sines and of Torrão-Odivelas were the most promising. A characterization was made of the Sines massif, a subvolcanic massif composed mostly of gabbros and diorites, located immediately adjacent to the CO2 sources and outcropping along 300 km2 onshore and offshore. These studies confirmed that these rock samples exhibited the appropriate mineralogical and geochemical features, but also indicated that the secondary porosity provided by the fracture patterns was very small

Accuracy of parasitological and immunological tests for the screening of human schistosomiasis in immigrants and refugees from African countries: An approach with Latent Class Analysis

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is a neglected infection affecting millions of people, mostly living in sub-Saharan Africa. Morbidity and mortality due to chronic infection are relevant, although schistosomiasis is often clinically silent. Different diagnostic tests have been implemented in order to improve screening and diagnosis, that traditionally rely on parasitological tests with low sensitivity. Aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of different tests for the screening of schistosomiasis in African migrants, in a non endemic setting. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A retrospective study was conducted on 373 patients screened at the Centre for Tropical Diseases (CTD) in Negrar, Verona, Italy. Biological samples were tested with: stool/urine microscopy, Circulating Cathodic Antigen (CCA) dipstick test, ELISA, Western blot, immune-chromatographic test (ICT). Test accuracy and predictive values of the immunological tests were assessed primarily on the basis of the results of microscopy (primary reference standard): ICT and WB resulted the test with highest sensitivity (94% and 92%, respectively), with a high NPV (98%). CCA showed the highest specificity (93%), but low sensitivity (48%). The analysis was conducted also using a composite reference standard, CRS (patients classified as infected in case of positive microscopy and/or at least 2 concordant positive immunological tests) and Latent Class Analysis (LCA). The latter two models demonstrated excellent agreement (Cohen's kappa: 0.92) for the classification of the results. In fact, they both confirmed ICT as the test with the highest sensitivity (96%) and NPV (97%), moreover PPV was reasonably good (78% and 72% according to CRS and LCA, respectively). ELISA resulted the most specific immunological test (over 99%). The ICT appears to be a suitable screening test, even when used alone. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid test ICT was the most sensitive test, with the potential of being used as a single screening test for African migrants