Glazed roman ceramic. A multi-analytical approach

A multi-analytical approach has been applied to characterize ancient glazed ceramics from the archaeological sites of Magna Mater temple and Domus Tiberiana on the Palatine Hill (Rome, Italy) dated between the 3rd and the early 5th century AD. The aim of this work is to investigate the production technologies of the ceramic body and the glazed coating and to explore the nature and the provenance of the raw materials. Optical microscopy (OM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) results showed that the ceramic body is composed by quartz, K-feldspar and plagioclase, fragments of igneous and sedimentary rocks. The firing temperature was estimated at about 900-1000 °C, in uncontrolled atmosphere conditions. The mineralogical assemblage of the ceramic body is consistent with a local source of the raw materials. The results of electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) showed that the glazes contain different Si/ Pb ratios. In addition, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) detected the presence of Sn although its concentration does not allow defining the studied samples as tin-glazed ceramics. However, the occurrence of this element indicates an atypical Roman production, never recognized before in coeval samples from other archaeological sites

How microanalysis can be discriminant on black Pompeian wares

In the present work the advantages of punctual approaches are discussed in the discrimination of black wares from the Sanctuary of Venus Fisica (Pompeii, Italy), dated between the 2nd and 1st century BC. Black-gloss ware and "bucchero" samples are analyzed by a multi-analytical approach including optical microscopy (OM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) to investigate the mineralogical and petrographic features of these artefacts. Grain size, firing conditions and potter’s expertise influenced the final appearance of the superficial decorative black layer. In addition, punctual chemical analysis was fundamental to verify the archaeological indication of specific production sites

Sistematizzazione dei dati archeologici nel suburbio ostiense tra la valle di Malafede e i lembi dello Stagno

L’articolo riconnette il tessuto archeologico di tre distretti del suburbio, bassa Valle di Malafede, Casal Palocco e Infernetto, attraverso la contestualizzazione dei dati noti con le acquisizioni recenti, con particolare attenzione alle dinamiche di interazione tra popolamento e caratteristiche geotecniche dei suoli. Per la Valle di Malafede viene tracciata una sintesi evolutiva del sistema insediativo, ed analizzato il ruolo chiave che da sempre riveste come cerniera tra l’urbe e la colonia ostiense, sia per lo sviluppo di grandi ville di proprietà dell’élite cittadina, sia per lo sviluppo di reti di infrastrutture idriche. In merito al settore di Casal Palocco viene analizzata la correlazione tra le evidenze archeologiche e le caratteristiche geomorfologiche del territorio. Nel quadrante di Infernetto vengono invece presentate le novità sullo sfruttamento antropico della fascia estrema sud occidentale dello stagno ostiense, dove sembra confermata l’ipotesi della presenza di aree di stazionamento di animali destinati agli spettacoli quali venationes.Collection and analysis of the archeological evidences from the suburban Ostiense area, between Malafede Valley and Stagno Ostiense. The paper put together the archaeological evidence from three areas of the suburbium, the low Valle di Malafede, Casal Palocco and Infernetto, through the contextualization of the old data with the new one, with a special focus on the dynamics of interactions between population and geotechnical features of the soils. For the Valle di Malafede, it draws an evolving synthesis of the settlement, and analyses its key position as a pivotal zone between the Urbs and the colony of Ostia, whether through the development of big villas owned by the urban elite, or through the development of a web of hydraulic infrastructures. Concerning the area of Casal Palocco, it examines the correlation between archaeological evidence and the geomorphological features of the territory. For the area of Infernetto, the paper exposes the new data about the human exploitation of the most southwestern strip of land of the stagno ostiense, confirming thus the hypothesis of the existence of parking areas for the beasts for display in the venationes

Investigations on alloy-burial environment interaction of archaeological bronze coins

This study is focused on ten Roman leaded coins from the archaeological site of the Magna Mater Temple (Rome, Italy). These coins, buried for centuries in a peculiar environment of the archaeological area (i.e., the latrinae), were investigated to explore the chemical composition and microstructure of the inner alloy. The opportunity to examine the core of the alloy permitted to disclose information about the original composition as well as to infer the interaction and the modification of the metal core during burial condition over centuries. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Electron Microprobe Analysis (EMPA) techniques have been employed to study each sample from rim to inner un-corroded core. The results showed that the coins are a Cu-Sn based alloy enriched in Pb. The content of Cu in the Cu-rich area (i.e., the α-phase) is ca 99 wt% and that of the Pb islands (i.e. the β-phase) reaches 97 wt%. The X-ray maps of the interface between the subexternal layer/inner-core revealed the occurrence of high chloride content, in which the distribution of Cl and Pb indicated the presence of lead chloride minerals. SEM-imaging highlighted also a deep corrosion of the patina with cracks and pits. Underneath the corrosion layer, an area of the almost unaltered β-phase composing the bulk material of the coin has been detected

The <em>Domus Tiberiana</em> Project (Rome). The supply of bricks for the Hadrianic construction works along the <em>Nova Via</em>

The Domus Tiberiana Project started in 2013 and is coordinated by the Soprintendenza Speciale per il Colosseo e l’area archeologica centrale di Roma. It aims at a new and comprehensive study of the first imperial palace on the Palatine. Several aspects are considered, integrating the results of preceding research into new analyses archived inside the GIS SITAR of the Soprintendenza: the study of wall stratigraphy, building techniques, decoration systems, archaeological finds, and architectural restorations. This paper shows the first results of the survey of building techniques and materials used in the Hadrianic block along the western section of the Nova Via, built at the same time as the enlargement of the north-western corner of the Domus Tiberiana. In particular, metrological analysis of bricks has proved how the different supplies of bipedales, sesquipedales, bessales, broken roof tiles and reused bricks were arranged inside the building. In fact it seems that the distribution of building techniques in the different portions of the construction was planned according to an economic and structural rationale

Roman glazed inkwells from the Nuovo Mercato di Testaccio (Rome, Italy). Production technology

This study is focused on Roman lead-glazed inkwells from the archaeological site of the “Nuovo Mercato di Testaccio” (Rome, Italy) dated in the half 2nd century AD. Optical microscopy (OM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) have been used. Petrographic analysis of the body indicated the occurrence of only one fabric. The reaction zone at the contact glaze/body is marked by the enucleating of euhedral Pb-bearing alkali feldspar from a felsic melt enriched in Pb as revealed by EMP analysis. The mineralogical assemblages of the body and glaze, the microstructure and the chemical composition suggest that the inkwells were fired in the range 950–1100 ◦C, under oxidizing conditions

A provenance study of Roman lead-glazed ceramics using lead isotopes and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)

Lead isotope analyses, using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), are used to trace the provenance of lead minerals involved in the production of Roman lead-glazed ceramics. The Roman archeological ceramic artifacts analyzed in this study were recovered from five archeological sites in Rome: the Testaccio Market (mid-2nd century AD), the Magna Mater sanctuary and the Domus Tiberiana on the Palatine Hill (late 4th – 5th century AD), the Forum of Caesar (10th - the early 11th century AD) and from the Forum of Nerva (9th – 10th century AD). A comparison of lead isotope ratios from the ceramic artifacts examined with databases of lead isotopes from lead deposits exploited in ancient times suggests that since the 2nd century AD the deposits of the British Isles were the most probable sources of metal involved in the production of Roman lead-glazed ceramics. Furthermore, the results indicate that the lead isotope ratios obtained by SIMS are consistent with values reported in the literature that were obtained by ICP-MS and TIMS. Thus, the effectiveness of in-situ micro-analysis by SIMS is highlighted, considering that it is a less destructive method for the analysis of valuable archeological recovered artifacts

A multi-analytical approach for the validation of a jellified electrolyte. Application to the study of ancient bronze patina

This work reports the first employment of a gel polymer-based electrochemical cell to perform electrochemical impedance analysis of archaeological remains. The patinas of three Roman coins are studied through of electrochemical techniques (especially Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, EIS) along with Electron Scanning Microscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), in order to validate the results obtained with jellified electrolyte. SEM-EDS and XRD analyses reveal the composition of the patinas suggesting that the original alloys were made of Cu and Cu–Sn–Pb. Furthermore, EIS results make one able to assess some characteristics of coins, as for instance, the presence of a noble patina. This outcome is corroborated by the SEM-EDS and XRD analysis, suggesting that the method based on the jellified electrolyte on archaeological samples can be employed. Moreover, supporting studies are carried out using Voltammetry of Microparticles (VMP), which is able to detect the presence of some specific corrosion products (cuprite). So far, EIS is not a common technique in the Cultural Heritage field despite it can provide useful information about the conditions of conservation, i.e., corrosion processes. Here we can show the advantages of developing a gel-based system for EIS measurement which allows carrying out a punctual and quick analysis on the ancient bronze roman coins

Medieval glazed ceramic from Caesar's Forum (Rome, Italy). Production technology

This study is focused on Medieval Roman heavy lead-glazed ceramics from the archaeological site of the Caesar's Forum (Rome, Italy), dated from the 10th and not beyond the first decades of the 11th century. Optical microscopy (OM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) have been used for the archaeometric characterization of the ceramics. Petrographic analysis of the body indicated the occurrence of three petro-fabrics, mainly composed by abundant quartz, feldspars, nodules of iron oxides, rare fragments of siliceous rocks, very rare fragments of calcareous rocks, pyroxene, biotite and olivine. This mineralogical assemblage suggests that the ceramics were fired in the range 950–1050 °C, under oxidizing conditions. SEM and EMP analysis show that the ceramic body was produced with non-or moderately calcareous clays and the heavy glaze with lead oxide, silica, alumina and alkalis. The microstructure of the glaze and the relationship with the body suggest that for the production of the ceramic repertoire of the Caesar's Forum either the single or the double firing techniques were used