The following work concerns the archaeometric characterization of different pottery classes found in Pompeii during the I.E. excavations
in 1980-1981. The study focused on the comparison between the II-I century BC cooking wares (called group V) considered of local origin
and a coeval group of pottery (called group L) characterized by the same ceramic shape but different fabric.
Petrographic study highlighted similar mineralogical associations, very common both in the Campanian Province and in the Roman
co-magmatic Province. Therefore, micro-analysis on individual volcanic phases (clinopyroxenes) of selected trace and rare earth elements
(REE) were performed, by means of inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry associated with Laser Ablation (LA-ICP-MS), on
both V and L ceramic groups and clinopyroxenes of igneous rocks of the Campanian (Somma-Vesuvius and Roccamonfina) and Roman
districts (Vulsini, Vico and Sabatini). The good potential of this method was extremely useful to confirm the local provenance of group V
and to indicate a probably source area for group L.
Moreover, two different groups of black-glazed ware dated to the IV-III century BC (Group a) and II-I century BC (Group b) were selected for the analysis in order to investigate local productions and to clarify the technological changes for over three centuries.
No compositional differences were detected by petrographic and chemical (XRF) analysis. Conversely, the study on black glazes by SEM/EDS and Raman microscopy evidenced mineralogical and morphological variations clearly due to a different firing practice. Finally, in
order to confirm the local origin, the clayey materials of the Salerno province were sampled and compared chemically to verify their use
as possible raw materials for the production of this ceramic class. These clayey sediments show a large compositional similarity with the
analyzed ceramics.
The results allowed to attest a production of black glaze ceramic at Pompeii and secondly suggested some considerations relating to the
management of ancient quarries in the area of Salerno, employed probably by potters in a quite extensive area.
Parole chiave: ceramiche, archeometria, provenienza
Keywords: pottery, archaeometry, provenance
