An insight view on archeology and archaeometry of "Pompei Forum black glaze ware": IV-II/I B.C.

The contribution will present data part of a wider interdisciplinary project focused on the study of ceramics from excavations carried out in 1980-81 by P. Arthur in the forum of Pompeii and coordinated by one of the authors (D. Cottica) in collaboration with the local Soprintendenza. Ceramic study allowed identifying a local black-glazed production of fine wares, including black glaze ware, characterized by a distinctive light brown clay. Of great interest is a deposit (X 11B) containing black glaze finished and unfinished fragments, together with kiln spaces, dating to the late IV early III century B.C. From a macroscopic point of view, among the ceramics from the forum area (all strata) it was possible to identify two sub-groups (or series) of BG characterized by some differences in clay and glaze appearance, as well as in chronology and morphological repertoire. These two series have been conventionally termed “Pompeii Forum A” and “Pompeii Forum B”. From the chronological point of view, this BG production spans from the IV and the II-I century B.C. and is attested by more than 4000 fragments. The proposed contribution will illustrate and discuss the archeological data together with results from a recent archaeometric project of analysis and characterization of this BG pottery production, carried out by the University of Calabria. Furthermore, in order to identify the likely provenance area of raw material used at Pompeii, Mio-Pliocenic clayey samples collected in the Salerno area have been analyzed by XRF and PXRD analysis and compared with chemical and mineralogical data related to kiln spacers and ceramics of BG production series A-B. In addition, specific archaeometric analyses performed on fabric and glaze of fragments belonging to the series A and B allowed to acquire information on the technological changes that characterize the manufacture of these BG vessels through time.