Cerâmicas da Idade do Ferro II do depósito votivo de Garvão

Garvão foi um importante local sagrado da Idade do Ferro II, onde em 1982 foi acidentalmente descoberto um impressionante depósito votivo [1]. Na escavação foram recuperados uma enorme variedade de materiais, sobretudo cerâmica, os quais foram depositados intencionalmente e cuidadosamente organizados de modo a optimizar o espaço disponível. A cerâmica recuperada mostra que durante a Idade do Ferro este sítio arqueológico foi um ponto de fusão das sociedades ibéricas com fortes influências celtas (interior da Península Ibérica) e do mundo Mediterrâneo. A análise estilística das cerâmicas permitiu a classificação do conjunto cerâmico em diferentes grupos tipológicos. Relacionando o estudo material com aspectos geológicos pretende-se contribuir para uma melhor compreensão das sociedades que produziram estas cerâmicas e das suas interacções no SW da Península durante a Idade do Ferro II. Deste modo, estabeleceu-se uma metodologia de estudo multi-analítica. Aplicando técnicas modernas das ciências dos materiais e os princípios da ciências físicas (por exemplo, geologia e química) pode-se obter respostas e uma melhor compreensão da importância de Garvão nesta área da Península Ibérica. A combinação de técnicas como microscopia electrónica com possibilidade de análise elementar, difracção de raios-X e análise térmica permitem identificar a composição mineralógica destas cerâmicas que extrapolada para a geologia regional, permitem importantes contributos para o conhecimento das sociedades que produziram estes materiais de uso comum. Especial ênfase é concedida à fonte de proveniência das matérias-primas, aos aspectos tecnológicos e, às rotas de circulação de mercadorias, ideias e crenças religiosas. Os primeiros resultados [2] são sobre um grupo de cerâmicas em que foram utilizados dois tipos de matérias-primas: um núcleo inicial com desengordurantes mais grosseiros e a construção da peça com material mais fino. [1] C. Beirão et al., O Arqueólogo Português, 3 (1985) 45-136 [2] L. Rosado et al. In IMA2010, Bonds and Bridges: Mineral sciences and their applications, Budapeste (2010),Livro de Resumos. p. 122 Agradecimentos. Este trabalho é financiado pela FCT através do projecto GODESS e da bolsa de Doutoramento SFRH/BD/67093/2009. Os autores agradecem o apoio da Câmara Municipal de Ourique

Iron age pottery from Garvão votive deposit

The Iberian Peninsula was an attractive area in ancient times due to its abundance in geological resources. Hence, the Iberian Iron Age is a period of successive social and political transformations, sometimes resulting in conflicts [1]. In 1982, an impressive votive deposit was discovered in Garvão (SW Portugal) revealing an important Iron Age II holy site [2]. Beside some uncertainties, this region is marked by very strong Mediterranean cultural influence but the inhabitants are celtic. The materials recovered (mainly pottery) were intentionally deposited, carefully arranged in order to optimize the available space [2, 3]. The pottery recovered shows that during Iron Age this archeological site was a merging geostrategic point of the Iberian societies with strong influences of the Mediterranean world and the Iberia celtic influences. Pottery fragments are one of the most common signs of human occupation. Its aesthetic aspects are extensively studied as one of mankind’s earliest expressions of representational art. But the ceramic characteristics depend also on the technology accessibility, the relationship of the societies with their environment, especially with the availability of raw materials, and on the commercial and cultural connections with other societies [4, 5]. Raw materials used by these communities provide essential information to understand specific historical periods. The geological resources are particularly useful for this purpose because even processed they can figure out identifiable signatures of provenance or technology used. Moreover, their intermittent occurrence and human necessity justify the existence of trade routes. A detailed study of the pottery based on stylistic analysis was envisaged which allowed the classification into different clusters. Special emphasis will be given to the provenance of the pottery, the technological aspects and the relationship between populations and Garvão holy site. The study of geological raw materials applying and combining modern techniques of earth materials sciences and the principles of physical sciences (e.g. geology and chemistry) can provide answers and a better understanding of the Garvão importance in this area of the Iberian Peninsula. A multi-analytical methodology was setup using optical and electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. The combination of these techniques applied to selected Garvão pottery materials allowed the recognition of the ceramic phase composition, firing temperature, kiln atmosphere, ceramic manufacturing processes and origin of raw materials. With this study, connections with Mediterranean areas and with local production areas were underlined revealing that Garvão was a multicultural area. References [1] Alfenin, R. & Pariera, R.: Taller Poliorcética, Conclusiones, in “Poliorcética, Fortificación y Patrimonio (Asalto y Defensa de Plazas Fuertes)”, Editorial Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, pp. 307-322, 2005. [2] Beirão, C. de M., Tavares, C., Soares, J., Varela, M. and Varela, R.: Depósito votivo da II Idade do Ferro de Garvão. Notícia da primeira campanha de escavações, O Arqueólogo Português, 3, 45-136, 1985. [3] Beirão, C. de M., Tavares, C., Soares, J., Gomes, M. and Varela, R.: Um depósito votivo da II Idade do Ferro, no sul de Portugal, e as suas relações com as culturas da Meseta, Veleia, 2-3, 2017-221, 1985-86. [4] Maggetti, M. & Galetti, G.: Late La Téne pottery from western Switzerland: one regional or several local workshops? in Maggetti, M. & Messiga, B. (eds) “Geomaterials in Cultural Heritage”. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 257, 63-80, 2009. [5] Arnold, D.: Linking society with the compositional analyses of pottery: a model from comparative ethnography. in: Livingstone Smith, A., Bosquet, D. & Marttineau, R. (eds) “Pottery Manufacturing Process: Reconstitution and Interpretation”. British Archaeological Reports International Series. Archaeopress, Oxford, 1349, 1-12, 2001. Acknowledgments This work was financial supported by “Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia” (FCT) through the project PTDC/HIS-ARQ/108758/2008 and the PhD grant SFRH/BD/67093/2009

Isotopic investigation in the region of Pax Julia during paleochristian occupation: paleodiets and mobility

In this study, diet and mobility of the Palaeochristian populations from the Roman villae of São Cucufate and Cegonha, and from the necropolis of Alpendre dos Lagares, located in the Beja region in southern Portugal, was investigated by isotopic analysis. Osteological tissues provide information on diet and mobility of the individuals. Isotopic analysis of delta 13C and delta 15N of bones can be used to determine the food intake of ancient populations whose dietary habits are not well known due to the lack of archaeological evidence. Isotopic ratios of the bone organic (delta 13C and delta 15N) and inorganic fractions (delta 13C) can provide information on the types of plants ingested , the amount of animal resources, terrestrial versus marine resources, as well as breastfeeding and weaning practices. Individual mobility can be assessed by the measurement of 87Sr/86Sr in the inorganic fraction of teeth and bones. The local 87Sr/86Sr geological ignature where the individual spent its childhood is recorded in the teeth, while 87Sr/86Sr recorded in bones relates to the place where the individual spent the last 10 years before death. Comparison of the Sr isotopic signature of teeth and bones can be used to infer about the individual’s mobility pattern. Bone isotopic analysis can be compromised by the diagenetic processes which occur during burial. In this study, FTIR (Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy) and XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) analyses were used to assess the diagenetic processes impacting the skeletons. Dietary isotopic analysis of studied populations indicates a mixed terrestrial diet, with some small inter- and intra-populational variations. Dietary isotopic values obtained for the Paleochristian population of Pax Julia are roughly similar to Roman populations in the Mediterranean area. In terms of mobility, analysis of the Cegonha individuals proved they were mainly local with some evidence of limited movements

Mineralogical composition of ceramics from Garvao iron age votive deposit (Portugal)

In 1982, a votive deposit was discovered in Garvão (SW Portugal) revealing an important Iron Age II holy site. The pottery recovered shows that during Iron Age this archeological site was a merging geostrategic point of the Iberian societies with strong influences of the Mediterranean world and the Iberia celtic influences. Raw materials used by these communities provide essential information to understand specific historical periods, particularly concerning the relationship of the societies with surrounding environment, eventual existence of trade routes and available technology. The geological resources are particularly useful for this purpose because even processed they can figure out identifiable signatures of provenance or technology used. Moreover, their intermittent occurrence and human necessity justify the existence of trade routes. Special emphasis will be given to the provenance of the pottery, the technological aspects and the relationship between populations and Garvão holy site. The study of geological raw materials applying and combining modern techniques of earth materials sciences and the principles of physical sciences (e.g. geology and chemistry) can provide answers and a better understanding of the Garvão importance in this area of the Iberian Peninsula. A multi-analytical methodology was setup using optical and electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffractio

Multi-analytical study of ceramic pigments application in the study of Iron Age decorated pottery from SW Iberia

A non-invasive multi-analytical approach combining optical microscopy (OM), micro-X-ray diffraction (mXRD), in-situ X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), variable pressure scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (VP-SEM-EDS) and Raman micro-spectroscopy has been employed for the first time to investigate the chemical composition of ceramic pigments in Iberian Iron Age ceramics. The methodology was applied in the study of red, black and white pigments on Iron Age decorated pottery from the archaeological site of Garvão (SW Portugal). The complementary methodology adopted in this study minimized the damage to the ancient artefacts and turned out to be essential in achieving a complete chemical and mineralogical characterization of pigment composition. Results suggest that haematite (Fe2O3) and pyrolusite (MnO2) are the main mineral carriers of the Fe and Mn chromophore ions, responsible respectively for the red and black colour. While illite (K(Al,Mg, Fe)2(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2), a common clay mineral, is giving the white colour. It is the first time that the use of illite as a pigment on decorations of ancient pottery has been reported in western societies. The potters used local raw materials, compatible with the regional geological context and the archaeometric study seems to demonstrate that the society that produced the painted ceramics had limited access to long commercial routes.This work was financial supported by ‘‘Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia” (FCT), FEDER and compete2020 through the project PTDC/HIS-ARQ/108758/2008, the PhD grant SFRH/BD/67093/2009 and UID/Multi/04449/2013-POCI-01-0145-FEDER-00764

Multi-analytical and isotope investigation of a Late Roman/Paleochristian population from the far west corner of the Roman Empire [Pax Julia]

This study examines for the first time the diet of a Paleochristian population in the south of Portugal, from the Roman villae of Monte da Cegonha, in the region of Beja. Preliminary data are presented here and discussed in order to better understand the influence of the Roman occupation for several centuries on the way of life of rural inhabitants of the area of Pax Julia. Isotopic analysis (δ13Ccollagen, δ15N, δ13Capatite, δ18Ocarbonate-apatite) were conducted on long compact bones from 22 human individuals excavated from individual graves comprising a skeleton in articulation and some commingled bones in Monte da Cegonha. As comparative samples, isotopic composition (δ13Ccollagen, δ15N, δ13Capatite, δ18Ocarbonate-apatite) of wild (red deer, rabbit) and domestic fauna (cattle, sheep/goat, wines) excavated at Monte da Cegonha was examined. As a complement, some of the skeletons were analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction and Fourier Transformed Infra-Red Spectroscopy for estimating the preservation state of the bones, examining the crystallinity, the presence vs. absence of secondary minerals in the bone porosity, and the conservation status of the organic phase. In this study, we explore the diet (type of plants ingested, amount of animal resources, terrestrial versus marine resources) and animal husbandry practices prevailing at Monte da Cegonha during the early 5th until the end of 7th century. Besides, potential sex-age variations in diet, and comparison with published data for Roman (Italy, England) and Paleochristians (Italy) populations are discussed. Preliminary strontium isotope data recorded in teeth of some individuals buried in Monte da Cegonha as well as in environmental samples within the site catchment are also presented for addressing potential mobility patterns of this Paleochristian population