Sara Tiziana Levi

Apulian Bronze Age pottery as a long-distance indicator of the Avellino Pumice eruption (Vesuvius, Italy)

Abstract During the Bronze Age, Vesuvius had a Plinian eruption whose deposits are known as the Avellino Pumice. The eruption spread a blanket of white and grey pumice across southern Italy, and there was a severe impact on proximal areas. Assessment of volcanological factors for the Plinian phase gives intensities of 5.7 × 107 kg s−1 for the white pumice phase and 1.7 × 108 kg s−1 for the grey pumice phase, corresponding to column heights of 23 and 31 km, respectively. Volume (magnitude) calculations using the crystal concentration method (CCM) give respectively 0.32 and 1.25 km3 of deposit, in a total minimum period of about 3 h. Archaeometric studies on Bronze Age domestic pottery from several settlements in Apulia (SE Italy) reveal the presence of pumice fragments mixed with the clay, and petrological and chemical criteria suggest that these pumices are from the Avellino eruption. This relationship allows us to fix precise correlations between different archaeological facies of the Italian Bronze Age. To explore the possibility of an extensive use of pumices in these distal regions (about 140 km from Vesuvius), we calculated the possible thickness of the tephra blanket. We propose a method to extrapolate proximal data on the deposit to calculate its minimum distal thickness. Such a method could also be used in volcanic hazard studies to assess the distal impact of large past eruptions.

Technology Transfer at the Periphery of the Mycenaean World: The Cases of Mycenaean Pottery Found in Central Macedonia (Greece) and the Plain of Sybaris (Italy)

The study of technology transfer in pottery production to the periphery of the Mycenaean world has been addressed by considering two different areas, southern Italy and central Macedonia. Technological features such as ceramic paste, decoration and firing have been determined for different ceramic groups established according to provenance criteria. The studies of technology and provenance have been performed following an archaeometric approach, using neutron activation analysis, petrographic analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results have revealed the existence of two different models. On the one hand, southern Italy seems to exhibit a more organized pottery production, which follows a Mycenaean-like technology, while in central Macedonia production is probably more varied, being based in part on the technology of the local tradition.

p-XRF analysis of multi-period Impasto and Cooking Pot wares from the excavations at Stromboli-San Vincenzo, Aeolian Islands, Italy

ABSTRACT This exploratory study focuses on the elemental analysis by p-XRF (portable X-Ray Fluorescence Analyser) of 62 samples of coarse wares, consisting of Bronze Age handmade burnished ware, so-called Impasto, and of Cooking ware (dated from the Roman period to Modern times). All wares originate from the site of San Vincenzo, Stromboli, and Aeolian Islands. The question addressed here is whether it is possible to differentiate between local (Aeolian) and imported (non-Aeolian) fabrics with the use of the p-XRF; 42 of the 62 samples were also subjected to petrographic analysis as a way of testing our hypothesis. Our results show that p-XRF analysis can clearly assist in distinguishing between Aeolian vs. non-Aeolian wares. Analyses can take place in the field and large quantities of sherds can be processed as a result. We suggest that no further demands should be made of the technique in providing answers to more detailed provenance questions. This is because finer separation in subgroups (as achieved recently by combined petrographic and EPMA analysis on select samples) is not possible given the nature of coarse pottery and the limitations of the technique in measuring key light elements (Na, Mg). Furthermore, for some elements (e.g Cr) accuracy is below acceptable levels in which case results for these particular elements are considered semi-quantitative.