ANALISI ARCHEOMETRICHE SU CERAMICHE DA FUOCO TARDOANTICHE DA DYRRACHION (ALBANIA): NUOVI DATI.

Abstract

This work, together with a paper previously published on LRCW2, allows a first classification of the ceramic manufactures wellmatched with the geolithological characteristics of the district of Durrës (Albania). In the earlier phase of the research archaeological and archaeometric studies were carried out on selected samples representative of cooking ware forms brought to light in late roman layers of abandonment of a thermal complex located in Dyrrachion (Durrës) and dated back to the end of the 1st and the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The polarizing microscope observation of thin sections permitted the petrographic classification of 10 selected samples into 5 ceramic pastes, which were differentiated by means of the compositional and/or textural features of the sand temper. During this second phase of the research, the petrographic characterization was extended to further 13 representative samples of cooking ware more recently discovered in late-antique contexts of the macellum/forum of Dyrrachion and autoptically selected, increasing therefore the statistical basis. The data obtained by the new microscopic observations of thin sections let the types of ceramic paste to be absolutely reduced to 3. The most part of the analyzed samples were classified in the ceramic paste typology 1/1A, which is characterized by temper components mostly weathered from acid crystalline rocks and only subordinately from volcanic lithotypes as well as sedimentary silicatic rocks. This paste has been mostly recognized in globular pots with everted rim, having sometimes an internal ridge or concavity for lid setting and two ribbon handles. Considering the geolithology of central-western Albania, it is possible to refer the three ceramic pastes to local or at least regional productions.