Archaeometric study of ceramic production at Chiusi-Marcianella (Siena, Italy)

Archaeometric study of twenty-two samples from the III-I BC centuries kilns of Chiusi-Marcianella was carried out to determine the source of the raw materials and to define certain technological aspects. For comparative purposes, 8 samples of clay were obtained from nearby sites. The types of ceramics included black and red glaze, thin wall, coarse ware, common ware, bricks and amphoras. The techniques used were optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe, and X-ray diffraction and fluorescence. Palaeontological analysis was also performed. The results indicated that local Ca-rich Pliocene clays were used for all types of ceramics, except for thin wall and coarse ware pottery, for which mixed or imported materials seem likely. The brightness and opacity of the black glaze pottery may be mainly due to the differences in paste, the thickness of the glaze layer and firing techniques.