Synchrotron µ-XRF imaging and µ-XANES of black-glazed wares at the PUMA beamline: Insights on technological markers for colonial productions

Well-designed archaeometric studies can provide pertinent information on ancient ceramic production technologies and allow better understanding of their manufacturing methods. In this regard, fine and glazed ceramics constitute a particularly interesting class of archeological artefacts, with increasing scientific interest for their production and functional aspects. In the present work we analyzed a selection of Attic and western-Greek black-glazed vessels from two archaeological excavations in Gela (Sicily, Italy), currently held at the Gela Archaeological Museum. The goal of the present study was to shed light on the archeological questions concerning the discrimination among western-Greek colonial workshops and the possible identification of different manufacture technologies throughout the colonies. Synchrotron µ-X-Ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) imaging and µ-X-Ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (µ-XANES) were performed at the newly opened PUMA beamline of the SOLEIL Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Using µ-XRF and µ-XANES we evaluated possible elemental variations in the glaze and their Fe-speciation, which can provide chemical and mineralogical markers for provenance identification. µ-XRF mapping of cross-sections spanning from the glaze to the body of each sample highlighted a variety of black-glaze compositions, including those characterized by high levels of Zn, which may be used as technological marker. Overall, our results provide chemically based criteria for the discrimination of Attic and western-Greek black-glazed colonial products and highlight distinguishing technological features among western-Greek workshops in Sicily and South-Italy.