Preliminary archaeometric analysis on amphorae used for transport in VI and V centuries B.C. , from excavation at Gela (Sicily)

This work is part of a joint research project between the Department of Geological Sciences of the University of Catania and the Department of Antiquities, Archeology Section, of Messina. It aims at characterizing ceramics coming from several Greek colonies in Sicily and Calabria (Gela, Agrigento, Segesta, Selinunte, Naxos, Sibari, Locri). Current scientific documentation regarding the archeometric study of these ceramics is very scanty. In particular, the present work focuses on amphorae found in the acropolis of Gela. These amphorae, used for transport and table purposes, are either “massaliote” (VI-V centuries B.C.) or “pseudo-chiota” (V century B.C.) in shape, or imitations of Corinthian ware (V century B.C.). Samples were analysed by diffractometry (XRD), optical analysis under a polarized-light microscope (OM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and plasma emission spectrometry (ICP MS). Data processing revealed that most of the amphorae were made in Gela itself, with the exception of one sample with a chemical composition very similar to that of samples found at Agrigento. The Gela samples were subdivided into three groups according to the grain size of the aggregate. It is interesting to show that the oldest ceramic products (VI century) are made of a mainly coarse mixture, whereas the more recent products (V century) are gradually made of an increasingly finer original material.