Publication Date:
2020-11-13
Description:
The ancient city of Elaiussa Sebaste (Ayash, Turkey) is located on the south-eastern coast
of Asia Minor (the old district of Cilicia Tracheia). The pottery circulation in this area, as well
as the local productions, is quite unknown. A preliminary study on the various ceramics
coming from the excavations at Elaiussa Sebaste, provides an interesting view on the Late-
Roman and Byzantine ceramics trade in the Eastern Mediterranean.
On the basis of sixth and seventh century archaeological contexts, it can say that Elaiussa
was a Late Roman 1 (LR1) amphorae and coarse wares production centre. On the basis of
archaeological classification which describes different classes of using and their possible
provenance, with the following mineralogical and petrography studies, it is possible to
confirm partly archaeological data. The study of thin section of ceramic sample shows hiatal
and serial distribution of grain sizes. It is evident that the large fragments in hiatal distribution
pattern were not present in the clay from the beginning, but were added to it during the
processing phase. The chemical composition of pottery can be used to distinguish products of
different origin. The chemical composition of the sherds is determined using wavelengthdispersive
X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Depending on the available amount of powdered
sample, all major chemical elements and some minor elements (Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Ce, Ba, La,
Cr, V, Th, Pb, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb) were analysed thus yielding sufficient information to
distinguish groups. The XRF data seem to identify that most LR1 samples used similar or
even the same source(s) of clay (homogeneity of XRF data), but are nevertheless probably
separate fabrics. This section studies were applied to control the resulting chemical grouping
and to find traces of the geological background of the manufacturing area. The variation in
potassium and sodium contents is larger than it would be expected if any of this pottery were
made from one clay. From the typically high Mg, Cr and Ni contents and from typical
inclusions of serpentine and pyroxenes which can be seen in microscopical study of the paste,
clay used has a probable origin from ophiolithic rocks. It will be compared to the ophiolithic
rocks, a possible provenance of the raw materials from ophiolitic belt which goes from the
Taurus to the Mediterranean coast near Antiochus, with the inclusions of pyroxene and
serpentine as typical inclusions in LR1. The high calcium contents show larger variation
between 27,67 and 19,06 % of CaO; using calcareous clays was common in the pottery
tradition of the Mediterranean and the Near East except for some cooking pot wares.
Corresponding author:
Description:
ISBN:84-00-08421-7
Description:
Unpublished
Description:
Madrid, Spain, 21-24 June 2006
Description:
7SR AMBIENTE – Servizi e ricerca per la società
Keywords:
Late Roman 1
;
Heritage
;
pottery
;
chemical composition
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
Abstract
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