Abstract

A multi-analytical approach was used to investigate Roman lead-glazed ceramic artefacts from archaeological excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum (Italy) aiming at defining the production technology of both glaze and ceramic body, by way of integrated investigations. The chemical, structural, and micro-morphological characterisations were performed using a combination of laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Fragments of artefacts (skyphoi, oil lamps, bowls, askoi, amphorae, krateres) of great historical and archaeological interest were sampled. LA-ICP-MS was used to determine the elemental composition by virtue of its effective lateral resolution, its ability to detect most elements and also to analyse comparably small samples. All the archaeological objects were coated with a lead-based glaze produced using a lead oxide-plus-quartz mixture, with sodium/potassium feldspars added as a flux and two different metals used: copper and iron. Two types of ceramic pastes have been identified, but chemometric techniques support the hypothesis of a Campanian provenance for the raw materials. Degradation phenomena such as the partial devitrification of the glaze, i.e. the slow structural reorganisation towards stable crystalline phases, and the leaching by mineral dissolution in the soil, were determined.

Autore Pugliese

• De Benedetto Giuseppe, Egidio

Tutti gli autori

• L.C. Giannossa , D. Fico , A. Pennetta , A. Mangone , R. Laviano , G.E. DE BENEDETTO

Titolo volume/Rivista

CHEMICAL PAPERS

Anno di pubblicazione

2015

ISSN

1336-9075

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

3

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

24/04/2018

Numero di citazioni Scopus

3

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

24/04/2018

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile