Search Results (26)

The article presents the research findings on a collection of ceramic crucibles excavated at the Koksharovka-1 hillfort, known as one of the most significant archaeological sites of the Medieval epoch (7th–13th centuries) in the Russian Far East. This study represents an investigation of melting crucibles as a distinct category of metalworking ceramics discovered in the research area. The study is based on an integrated approach combining traditional archaeological analysis with physicochemical methods, including scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), Raman spectroscopy, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and computed microtomography (micro-CT). The research found that the morphological and technological properties of the crucibles were consistent with their function as containers for metal heat treatment. Traces of copper-based alloys as well as gold and silver processing were detected as a result of the crucible examination. For the first time, archaeological evidence of silver and gold metalworking in the Russian Far East during the Medieval epoch has been obtained. Full article

The present study introduces a novel two-step multi-analytical approach for studying lustre ceramics, aiming to minimize damage to valuable artifacts. The method combines a completely non-destructive preliminary micro-X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) analysis, providing semi-quantitative information and elemental mapping, with micro-destructive transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for detailed nanoparticle (NP) morphology studies on selected areas. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is also employed as a non-destructive method to quantify lustre colour. This approach was applied to 20 samples of 9th- to 12th-century AD lustre ceramics from the Deraheib site in Northern Sudan. The research aimed to verify the lustre technique, characterize lustre properties (nanoparticle size, colour), and identify the ceramic production center based on glaze composition. The results from micro-XRF and TEM confirmed the presence of silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) in the lustre, with Ag NPs having a median size of 8 nm. Semi-quantitative micro-XRF analysis of the glaze indicated a composition rich in lead and tin oxides (PbO and SnO₂, 5%–15%) and magnesium oxide (MgO, 3%). This composition strongly correlates with published data for lustre ceramic production in Basra, Iraq, suggesting it as the likely origin, and ruling out Fustat, Egypt. Full article

Archaeological evidence for prehistoric placer tin mining is rare due to the ephemeral nature of the workings and the associated tools in the dynamic setting of active river systems. Here, we report an additional line of evidence for metallurgical activities at stream tin mining in Serbia at Mt. Cer and Bukulja. Rivers at these locations contain Pb-rich-glass grains, many of which are also enriched in Cu and Sn. Compositionally, the detrital grains of glass are similar to the vitreous infillings on a bleached ceramic sherd found at Spasovine, an archaeological site situated on the bank of the tin-rich Milinska River. The high-Pb-bearing (average 42 wt%) and Sn-bearing (average 0.7 wt%) composition of the glass, along with the inclusions of secondary cassiterite, indicate that the slag was derived from the refinement of leaded bronze (i.e., lead removal). Although the detrital glass slag grains lack direct archaeological context, broader archaeological observations limit their production to either the Roman or Medieval Periods. The presence of Pb-Cu-Sn metallurgical glass grains in a river at Bukulja provides the first concrete evidence of prehistoric tin mining at this locality, which demonstrates that sluicing for crushed glassy residues is a viable means to prospect for as yet undiscovered sites of ancient metallurgical activities. Full article

The Church of San Juan del Hospital in Valencia (Spain) is a Gothic church whose main architectural feature—the western façade—remained unresolved, posing structural and compositional challenges. The intervention addressed this issue while preserving the historical integrity of the building and its heritage context. A systematic methodology was applied, following principles of reversibility, sustainability, and compatibility with medieval ribbed-vault construction. The project resolved five key aspects: completion of the nave’s façade, coverage of the former atrium remains, access from the north courtyard, compositional coherence of the west courtyard front, and integration of the church and museum entrances. Contemporary materials and techniques, including aluminum, recycled wood, and handmade ceramic brick, were selected to harmonize with historic stonework, ensure durability, and minimize environmental impact. Design strategies guided visual perception, emphasizing the lower façade and resolving dispersive compositional elements, while creating functional spaces for ventilation, climate control, and circulation. This intervention demonstrates how a methodical, heritage-sensitive approach can solve complex architectural problems, combining innovation with historical authenticity, and enhancing both the functionality and aesthetic experience of the Church of San Juan del Hospital. Full article

Aerinite is a rare blue aluminosilicate mineral whose identification as a pigment in Pyrenean medieval artworks typically requires invasive microsampling. This study evaluates portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pXRF) as a noninvasive screening tool for aerinite in Alto Aragón (Spain) cultural heritage. Elemental compositions of aerinite and lapis lazuli references, ceramics, polychromed capitals, and thirteenth- to fifteenth-century painted panels were measured with a Niton XL3t GOLDD+ spectrometer. Data were analyzed using log-ratio linear discriminant analysis (LDA), with silicon as an internal normalizer. Aerinite references showed Cu and Co levels below instrumental detection limits, along with Fe (6.99 ± 1.04 wt%), Al (4.91 ± 1.38 wt%), and Si (15.95 ± 1.60 wt%). High-confidence aerinite classifications were obtained for Cu-free and Co-free blue pigments in the Barbastro Chrismon, the Buira altar frontal, and other panels. Extension of the protocol to green pigments revealed that two samples—from the Saint Anthony Abbot panel and Portaspana retable—were also classified as aerinite, providing the analytical evidence for “verde de Juseu” as a naturally occurring greenish aerinite variety. Despite known pXRF limitations, this technique effectively screens candidate aerinite-containing passages for subsequent microanalytical confirmation. Full article

Surveys and excavations carried out between 2004 and 2019 around the Vlach town of Samarina, in the Pindos Mountains of Western Macedonia (Greece), have yielded potsherds that can be attributed to different historical periods. The data collected so far suggest a long human presence in this region of the northern Pindos spanning from the Middle Pleistocene to the late Middle Ages. The ceramic fragments from the Historical Camp (HC), Kirkouri (KRK), the Holy Cross Church (SMC), Mt. Anitsa (Anitsa), Avgo (VGO), the Mirminda Pass (VLC), Mt. Vasilitsa (VSL), and the saddle between Mts. Bogdhani and Gurguliu have been studied in detail. Despite their fragmentary state, a database has been created with the morphological and typological characteristics of the potsherds and the sites from which they were retrieved. Coarse and fine ware potsherds have been identified. According to their manufacturing characteristics, they can be attributed to different Roman and medieval periods. A diassarion of the Larissa mint shows that connections between the mountain highlands and the lowlands were already active during the period of Emperor Augustus. The Samarina potsherds are probably related to the movements of Vlach shepherds, who spent long periods in these mountains with their flocks. This impression is confirmed by the presence of one vessel wall fragment which was directly in contact with fire and a few small vessel bases. The presence of ceramic vases is closely linked to the transportation of primary or secondary food supplies in a pre-cooked form or as liquids. We know that Vlach shepherds, as many other groups of Eurasian shepherds, never manufactured ceramic vessels even in their villages. Instead, they used different types of wooden and metal containers for cooking, drinking, and other tasks associated with pastoral activities, such as keeping milk and making cheese and butter, for example. Following these observations, our aim has been to define the vessel types used by the Vlach shepherds, which exhibit some kind of uniformity from the Roman to the Middle Ages. Full article

This article investigates liuli qinglou (琉璃青樓, blue–green glazed pavilions) of medieval China as architectural manifestations of the trans-Eurasian jeweled paradise ideal. Tracing developments from the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420–589 CE) through the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), it outlines an evolutionary trajectory in representing sacred space: from the use of genuine gemstones in West Asian traditions, through their imitation in glass and glazed ceramics, with applications before the Tang remaining selective and elite, to the ultimate abstraction into symbolic blue–green palettes in the cave murals of Kucha and Dunhuang, where chromatic choices may at times reflect pictorial convention. Integrating textual, archeological, and visual evidence, the study shows how Chinese rulers appropriated imported glazing technologies, together with painted or coated blue–green finishes that simulated liuli effects, not merely for ornamentation but to materially embody Buddhist cosmology and to legitimize imperial authority by creating a terrestrial Buddha land. The pervasive use of qing (青, blue–green) in religious art thus reflects a profound sensory-theological translation, illustrating how Eurasian flows of materials, techniques, and ideas were adapted to shape localized visions of paradise through innovative processes of material and visual transformation. Full article

This study investigates a rare case of liquid alcohol preserved in a glazed ceramic vase from the tomb of Li Jurou (AD 1226), Jin dynasty, Xi’an, China, to provide new insights into medieval brewing traditions. We employed a multi-proxy approach combining microfossil and isotopic analysis, experimental brewing with sorghum, and incorporated previously published proteomic data to illuminate its origin. Microfossil analysis revealed yeast cells and starch granules with damage patterns diagnostic of enzymatic saccharification and mashing, indicating the use of malted sorghum and wheat, alongside cooked rice and foxnut. The starch damage features observed in the archaeological sample are consistent with patterns documented in experimental beer brewing with sorghum and wheat/barley. Stable isotope analysis yielded a δ¹³C value of –18.5‰, consistent with mixed C₃ and C₄ inputs. Two-component isotopic modeling revealed that C₄ plant (likely sorghum) contributed 40–50% of the ingredients, with C₃ plants such as wheat, rice, and foxnut making up the remainder. These findings align with proteomic results identifying sorghum proteins in the liquid. The combined evidence distinguishes this beverage from qu-based fermentation and links it instead to li-type brewing, rooted in malted cereals and associated with ritual practices. This represents the earliest direct archaeological evidence of sorghum beer in China, highlighting both technological innovation and cultural adaptation in historical alcohol production. Full article

Between the 5th and 8th centuries AD, several (semi-)nomadic populations invaded ancient Tokharistan (Central Asia), introducing political, socio-economic and cultural changes that also affected pottery production. The study of ceramic materials thereby represents a useful tool for shedding light on the transformations related to such historical events. Unfortunately, no systematic research on ceramics from this region and this period has been conducted to date, and the information available mostly concerns the formal characteristics and imprecise relative chronologies. Aiming to contribute to the knowledge of Early Medieval pottery production in the territory north of the Amu Darya, we present a preliminary investigation on tableware and common wares recovered in the settlements of Khosijat Tepe, Shurob Kurgan, Balalyk Tepe and Dabil Kurgan. This paper provides new data on the vessels’ morphological/stylistic characteristics and relative chronologies, allowing their contextualisation and categorisation. In order to explore the manufacturing processes and their provenance (production areas), a multidisciplinary approach that combines WD-XRF, powder XRD and thin-section optical microscopy was carried out, allowing us to determine the chemical, mineralogical and petrographic compositions, respectively. The results suggest that most vessels consist of local/regional products. The choice and processing of the raw materials are broadly similar. However, slight variations are observed among the ceramics from distinct sites, related to the procurement of clayey sediments from different sources. Although a certain degree of morphological and technological continuity regarding the preceding Kushano-Sasanian pottery tradition is attested for some functional categories, new shapes and decorations appear, confirming the introduction of new practices in the region. Full article

The ancient site of Olympia is located on the northern fringe of the Basin of Makrisia at the confluence of the Kladeos and Alpheios rivers (western Peloponnese, Greece) and was used as a venue for the Panhellenic Games from Archaic times until the 4th century AD. Geophysical prospection (frequency domain electromagnetic induction and electrical resistivity tomography) was carried out as a basis for detailed geoarchaeological investigations. In doing so, we identified a previously unknown building structure adjacent to the Altis, the inner part of the sanctuary at Olympia. Situated south of the Southwest Thermae, this structure measures at least 100 m (WSW-ENE) by 80 m (NNW-SSE). Its external orientation is in line with the orientation of the Southwest Thermae and the Leonidaion. We retrieved sediment cores from 17 different locations in combination with high-resolution direct push sensing from inside the newly found structure. All cores revealed distinct units of organic-rich limnic sediments dominated by clay and fine silt. Geochemical and micropaleontological analyses of selected sediment samples indicate highly eutrophic conditions, as evidenced by elevated phosphorous concentrations and the dominance of the ostracod species Cyprideis torosa, which is able to live under low-oxygen conditions. Moreover, molecular biomarker analyses show a significant input of lipid fecal markers, implying strong anthropogenic pollution. Further, the limnic sediments include numerous charcoal remains and abundant diagnostic artifacts such as ceramic fragments and building material. Radiocarbon dating documents that these limnic conditions persisted within the building structure from at least the 5th century BC to the 6th century AD. The identified building structure lies in the immediate proximity to the Lake of Olympia, which was recently found to have existed from the mid-Holocene to the Medieval period. Its characteristic filling with fine-grained sediments and multiple indications for a strongly polluted and heavily used standing water environment let us hypothesize that it was possibly used as a harbor installation. A harbor at ancient Olympia could have been used to reach the sanctuary by boat and to transport goods of all kinds. Full article

Soil, geochemical, microbiological, and archeological studies were conducted at eight settlements dating from the Paleolithic to Late Medieval and Modern Ages near the southern Trans-Urals Mountains, Russia. The forest-steppe landscapes, rivers, and abundant mineral resources have attracted people to the region since ancient times. Cultural layers (CLs) are marked by finds of ceramics fragments, animal bones, stone, and metal tools. The properties of CLs include close-to-neutral pH, being well structured, the absence of salinity, enrichment with exchangeable calcium, and anthropogenic phosphorus (0.2–0.4%). The majority of CLs start at a depth of 3–25 cm, extend to 40–60 cm, and contain 6–10% organic carbon (Corg) in the 0–20 cm layer, reflecting carbon input from modern-day processes. At the Ishkulovo site (0.6–0.8 ka BP), Corg decreases to 1.3% because the CL is below 80 cm, and in the absence of fresh organic material input, carbon has been mineralized. The proximity of sites to deposits of copper, chromium, zinc, and manganese in the Ural Mountains creates natural high-content anomalies in the region, as indicated by their abundance in soils and parent rocks. In the past, these elements were also released into CLs from metal products, ceramic fragments, and raw materials used in their manufacture. The sites are quite far (18–60 km) from the Magnitogorsk Metallurgical plant, but industrial stockpiles of S (technogenic coefficient—Ct 30–87%), and, less often, Cr, Mn, and Sr (Ct 30–40%) accumulated in surface layers. These three factors have led to the concentration of pollutants of the first (arsenic, chromium, lead, and zinc) and second (cobalt, copper, and nickel) hazard classes at CLs, often in quantities 2–5 times higher than values for parent materials and geosphere average content (“Clarke” value), and, and less often, more than the allowable content for human health. This may have influenced their health and behavioral functions. Due to the above properties, chernozems have a high buffering capacity and a strong bond with heavy metals. Therefore, no inhibition of microbes was observed. The microbial biomass of the 0–10 cm layer is high, 520–680 µg C/g, and microbes cause the emission of 1.0 C-CO₂ µg/g of soil per hour. During the ancient settlements’ development, a favorable paleoclimate was noted based on the data cited. This contributed to the spread of productive paleolandscapes, ensuring the development of domestic cattle breeding and agriculture. Full article

Ceramic sherds from approximately 20 samples of lead-glazed tableware, recovered from diverse archaeological sites, including three repurposed storage pits transformed into dumpsters within the medieval city of Santarém (13th–14th century), underwent a meticulous examination. This investigation utilised techniques such as micro-Raman, ground-state diffuse reflectance absorption, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopies, in addition to X-ray diffraction and stereomicroscopy. A parallel study was conducted on contemporaneous European ceramics (glazed sherds) sourced from archaeological sites dating back to the 13th–15th centuries in Saintonge (France), Ardenne, Zomergem, and Bruges (Belgium), as well as Surrey–Hampshire, Kingston, and Cheam (England). The first premise for comparing the Santarem samples with European production locations was their frequent commercial relations with Portugal and the frequency of these productions being found in Portugal. The colour of the ceramic bodies is predominantly white or whitish, with a few exhibiting a vivid red hue. Analyses of the fabric, mineralogical, and elemental composition of the sherds suggest that the majority of Santarém’s glazed ceramics were locally or regionally produced, potentially derived from a Pliocene kaolin-rich sand formation. However, this conclusion is not supported by the absence of discovered lead glaze kilns or workshops in Santarém for the late Middle Ages. Full article

This study attempts to take aspects of pottery technology into account while concentrating on the blue pigment and glaze recipes of various kinds of glazed pottery types; that is to say, Iznik ware, Kütahya ware, Miletus ware, glazed fritware, porcelain, polychrome glazed ware, and monochrome glazed ware were collected from a rescue excavation site within the Castle of Mytilene in Lesvos Island, Greece. The decoration, surface treatment, and production technology were investigated on the basis of 23 ceramic fragments that can be dated to the Turkish/Venetian period. The present study concerns the manufacture of glazed pottery, and in particular, colour recipes and issues of glaze technology. This study endeavoured to look into the specifics of the medieval colour recipes used on the glazed ceramics from Mytilene. This was accomplished by using an analytical process that took into account the compositional information of blue pigments, glazes, and slip coatings. The chemical analysis was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), Raman spectroscopy provided information about the compositional variation, and the optical examination via optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) yielded information about the sample stratigraphy of the examined ceramic sections. This investigation into glazed ceramics was able to define and reflect the key aspects of each society’s perception of colour through a large variety of colour and glaze recipes. Full article

This paper discusses and underlines the importance of investigations on post-medieval shipwrecks, particularly for wrecks where archival documentation is also available, in relation to gaining a better knowledge of tin-glazed tableware produced in Montelupo (Florence, Tuscany). The case of the Mortella II wrecks is interesting in this sense and also shows how an exact dating of the wreck can allow for a revision of the chronologies of the ceramic classes found on board. In the case of the majolica of Montelupo, the revision of the dating of these ceramics with great diffusion (Europe, Americas, Africa) has major repercussions on international archaeological research. This paper presents a preliminary study of the Montelupo tin-glazed tableware found in the 2021 excavation researches conducted on the Mortella II wreck. The interest in the pottery recovered is high, for several reasons: (A) The dating of the wreck to 1527, clarified thanks to the discovery of a written document related to the sinking of the two Genoese “twin” ships off Saint-Florent (Haute-Corse), which are conventionally defined as Mortella II and III. (B) The almost exclusive presence of Montelupo majolica, a ceramic class among the most important between the 16th and 17th centuries, with a very wide dispersal throughout in the Mediterranean and Europe, as well as internationally. (C) The variety of decorations of the majolica of Montelupo documented thus far in the wreck (at least nine) makes this first sample a reference site for the study of this ceramic class in the first quarter of the 16th century, especially for the precise date of closure for the context (1527). Full article

The blue color of glass and ceramic glazes produced in Apulia and Basilicata (Southern Italy) between the 13th and 14th centuries and connected to the Norman-Swabian Emperor Frederick II, has been, for a long time, under archaeometric investigation. On the one hand, it has usually been associated with lapis lazuli, due to the finding of the polysulphide blue chromophores typical of lazurite. Moreover, the observation that the mineral haüyne, which belongs to the sodalite group as well as lazurite, can be blue and/or can gain a blue color after heating, due to the same chromophores, has caused this automatic attribution to be questioned, and also considering that the mineral is characteristic of the rock haüynophyre of Melfi (Potenza, Southern Italy), a location of interest for glass and pottery findings. In this paper, for the first time, several haüyne crystals were found in the blue glaze of a ceramic dish found at Melfi Castle, leading to the hypothesis that, in this case, the local haüyne-bearing source could have been used as the coloring raw material. The discovery was possible thanks to SEM-EDS and Raman analyses that, respectively, highlighted the typical numerous presence of very fine sulphur-based inclusions in the crystals and the characteristic Raman signal of blue haüyne. This study was also focused on the composition of the crystals inclusions, aided by SEM-EDS and Raman maps, since the original very fine pyrrhotite was transformed into Cu and Pb phases (copper sulphates, copper sulphides, and lead oxide) due to reactions with cations that had mobilized from the glaze, while the migration of Si from the glass allowed the transformation of the rim of the haüyne, a silica-undersaturated mineral, into a corona of small euhedral and neomorphic Pb-rich feldspars, a silica-saturated phase. Full article