Diversified production of red figured pottery in Apulia (Southern Italy) in the late period

Late Apulian red figured pottery [1] from Egnatia (Fasano, Brindisi, Italy) was studied in order to widen the view on this ceramic class in Southern Italy. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) provided the samples elemental composition that allowed to make provenance hypotheses. Optical Microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS), supplied information about the minero-petrographic features of the objects to better understand their production technology. The set of results highlighted the contemporary presence in the Apulian land in the late 4th century BC of both local and imported finds and showed the existence of two different kinds of local production, the “classic” Attic and a peculiar one, characterized by the application of an engobe layer before the black gloss. Our previous studies resulted in the discovery that an engobe layer, with similar chemical and minero-petrographic characteristics, was present in finds from another site in central Apulia (Monte Sannace). So the discovery of red engobe on fragments from Egnatia, proves that its use was not an isolated occurrence, but was quite common in the production of red figured in Apulia during the Late period, appearing as a peculiar technological mark of Apulian potters.     

Black limestone used in Lombard architecture

Black limestone samples from the quarries of Varenna (Lecco, I), Cene (Bergamo, I) and Riva di Solto (Bergamo, I) and widely used in Lombard architecture have been studied in terms of mineralogical, petrographic and chemical properties in order to provide a detailed characterisation and allow an unambiguous determination of their provenance. The inorganic and organic fractions have been separated from each other, and investigated using X-ray powder diffraction, atomic absorption, Hg-porosimetry, high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The occurrence of specific mineral phases, some binary chemical patterns (Fe/Mn, Zn/Sr, Zn/Co and Na/Cd) and the carbon chain relative molecular masses has proven to be useful markers to characterise unequivocally the materials studied.     

Provenance study of ancient Iranian luster pottery using PIXE multivariate statistical analysis

Although luster potteries are frequently excavated at archeological sites in Iran, a thorough scientific study of their provenance has not yet been performed. In this work, 43 pieces of Iranian luster pottery (bowl, dish and tile) excavated from Rayy, Kashan, Maragheh, Alamoot, Takht-i-Sulayman and Jiroft were analyzed in order to investigate their origin. The luster shards which belong to Seljuks and Il-Khanids dynasties (12th–13th centuries) were analyzed using proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique. To classify the fragments according to their location and origin, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were applied to the chemical compositions of the body of the shards. We were able to classify the samples into three distinct groups using PIXE.     

Noninvasive physicochemical characterization of two 19th century English ferrotypes

The present work was one of the first attempts to analyze the conservation status of two ferrotypes, ancient photographic plates realized on a support made of iron. The photographic material was constituted of collodion as binder for the photosensitive silver halides grains. The two ferrotypes studied belonged to a private collection of a family from Durham, UK, and were made at the end of the 19th century. The analytical techniques used for the morphological and physicochemical characterization were noninvasive. The surface morphology was studied by means of optical microscopy (OM) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-rays (EDX) system for the elemental analysis. These techniques, together with microreflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR) and contact angle, allowed to obtain information on both the chemical – elemental – composition of the materials constituting the ferrotypes, and the conservation status of these photographic plates. The study showed that the physicochemical diagnostics allowed to characterize the two ferrotypes that, despite their similar age and provenance, showed different conservation status, surface properties, and elemental composition.     

Methodology of analytical study for provenance determination of calcitic,calcite–dolomitic and impure marbles from historical quarries in the Czech Republic

The present provenance study was focused on marbles from historical quarries of one geological unit (Bohemian Massif, Czech Republic) exhibiting complex polyphase geological evolution. A combination of mineralogical–petrographic, geochemical and physical methods has been tested i.e. optical microscopy (OM) of the whole rock, X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the insoluble residues, petrographic image analysis (PIA) of carbonate grains, cathodoluminescence (CL) of microfacies, stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) of carbonates in the groundmass and secondary veins, Raman microspectrometry (RM) of the carbonaceous matter and bulk magnetic susceptibility (MS) of the whole rock.Based on the results of historical quarries and the artefacts from Pernštejn Castle and Prague Castle, the most effective way for provenance determination of marbles seems to be a combination of petrographic methods (including quantitative approaches), cathodoluminescence, and stable isotope study. Less conventional methods (e.g. Raman microspectrometry or physical properties like bulk magnetic susceptibility) are very useful for provenance studies on impure calcitic and dolomitic marbles that include carbonaceous matter, magnetic minerals or silicates. For the first time, Raman data on reduced carbonaceous matter permitted differentiation amongst marbles of different origin.     

Euganean trachytes: discrimination of quarried sites by petrographic and chemical parameters and by magnetic susceptibility and its bearing on the provenance of stones of ancient artefacts

This paper reports petrographic and chemical data and magnetic susceptibility values for trachytes of quarries recognizable within the Euganean Hills and sets out diagnostic parameters for these rocks. The diagnostic scheme proposed is basic for the definition of provenance of trachytes used in ancient artefacts spread over northern Italy. Trachytes were extensively used by the Romans for paving Via Aemilia, the most important road in the Po Plains connecting Ariminum (present-day Rimini on the Adriatic sea) to Placentia (present-day Piacenza on the Po river). Remains of the trachytic flagstones (basoli) used for paving segments of Via Aemilia crossing Regium Lepidi (present-day Reggio Emilia) and Bononia (present-day Bologna) have been characterised petrographically, chemically and also using magnetic susceptibility data. The discriminating scheme proposed here for the Euganean trachytes has been applied to the data obtained for basoli and thus the provenance of each investigated block has been inferred. The rocks sampled at Regium Lepidi mostly come from Monselice (only a few blocks from Monte Oliveto and Monte Merlo) and those of Bononia come mostly from Monte Merlo and, subordinately, from Monte Oliveto and Monselice (only one sample from Monte San Daniele). The dominant provenance of blocks, which is different in the two colonies distant by less than 50 km, suggests that the two segments of Via Aemilia were not built simultaneously.     

Pigments and binders in “Madonna col Bambino e S. Giovannino” by Botticelli investigated by micro-Raman and GC/MS

During the restoration plan of the famous painting “Madonna col Bambino e S. Giovannino” by Sandro Botticelli, located in the Museo Civico of Piacenza (Italy), a study on painting materials was carried out. The pigments, the binders and the materials used for the application of ground and priming layers were studied using micro-Raman spectroscopy, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), optical and electronic microscopies. Gypsum and anhydrite were found in the ground layer, while carbon black and lead white were used in the priming layers. The precious pigments of the artist's palette and the binders used (egg and animal glue) were determined.     

Principal Component Analysis in monument conservation: Three application examples

Multivariate statistics is a well-known and invaluable tool in archaeological science but its use is limited in monument restoration. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the effectiveness of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on the characterization, technology and weathering condition investigation of building materials from historical monuments.Towards this aim, three examples are given:The first one is a provenance and technology investigation of the Aghia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey) bricks, some of which had to be replaced due to weathering, during recent restoration works. It was proved by PCA that the original clay, used for the construction of the bricks, is not similar to the clay of other contemporary constructions in Istanbul but presents high similarity to the raw material of the bricks from a contemporary church in the island of Rhodes (Dodecanese, Greece). Additionally, the technology of the bricks was studied by mercury intrusion porosimetry, strength tests and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The use of PCA gives a very comprehensive way to present the difference in the technology of the dome bricks.The second presents a classification of mortars from medieval (Byzantine) monasteries, based on their microstructural characteristics (porosity, reverse hydraulicity ratio) and strength measurements. The PCA grouping gives an illustrative diagram depicting the correlation between mortar syntheses and resulting characteristics.The third case shows an example of the correlation between environmental pollution data and data from the weathering layers of marble surfaces (patina composition, orientation of the monument surface, etc.).     

Application of Laser Ablation ICP-MS for characterization of obsidian fragments from peri-Tyrrhenian area

This paper presents the results of a geochemical study on obsidian fragments by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry associated with Laser Ablation (LA-ICP-MS). This analytical method, almost non-destructive, has proven to be a powerful tool for “in situ” determination of trace elements, and is very useful in characterizing and determining the provenance of obsidian fragments of archeological interest. Its major advantage is that 29 trace and rare earth elements can be analysed in a very short time, without any sample manipulation.Analyses were carried out on 27 representative obsidian samples, collected from the main geological outcrops of Sardinia and the minor islands of Lipari, Pantelleria and Palmarola, in the peri-Tyrrhenian area, and on eight obsidian fragments recovered from three different Italian archeological sites of Neolithic age. The geological samples show variable trace element and REE compositions, and differences in Cs, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, La, Nd, Ho, Er and Yb were great enough to allow the various source areas to be distinguished. The fragments fall into seven compositional groups. Three, which are homogeneous but clearly distinct from each another, include the Lipari, Palmarola and Pantelleria samples. The other four groups refer to the obsidian of Monte Arci in Sardinia, already known in the literature as SA, SB1, SB2 and SC. LA-ICP-MS established the definite origin and source areas of the artefacts.Analytical results indicate that, for obsidian samples from the peri-Tyrrhenian area, significant geochemical differences exist in their trace and REE compositions, which identify their source areas and establish their provenance for archeometric purposes.     

Characterisation of 15 century red and black pastes used for wall decoration in the Qijmas El-Eshaqi mosque (Cairo, Egypt)

The use of coloured pastes for inlaying marble and limestone wall panels is one of the ornamental techniques that were widely used during the Mamluk period in Egypt (1250–1516 AD). Red and black pastes from Qijmas El-Eshaqe mosque (1482 AD) in Cairo were studied to identify their main components. The study of the samples involved the identification of the pigments, additive materials and organic binding media. The study was performed using various analytical methods such as polarising microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analyser (SEM-EDX), inductively-coupled plasma (ICP-AES), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). These complementary analytical techniques provide precise identification of inorganic and organic substances used in the pastes. The results indicated that the red pigment is mainly obtained from red ochre containing hematite, whereas amorphous carbon (bone black and charcoal) was used to obtain the black colour. Both samples contain calcium sulphate, which was used to give some hardness to the pastes. Beeswax was used as an organic medium in both pastes. The study provides the information required for the conservation of the coloured paste ornaments.     

Learning Experience and Socio-Cultural Influences on Female Engineering Students’ Perspectives on Engineering Courses and Careers

As developed and developing countries move towards greater technological development in the 21st century, the need for engineers has increased substantially. Japan is facing the dilemma of insufficient engineers; therefore, the country has to rely on foreign workers. This problem may be resolved if there is a continuous effort to increase the number of women engineers, who currently represent only 1%–2% of engineers in Japan. In this study, the satisfaction level of the learning experience of Japanese female engineering students was measured to determine its relationship with the students’ intention to choose engineering as their profession. Socio-cultural influences on the respondents’ intentions to pursue careers in the field were also studied. The findings revealed that learning experience was directly related to female students’ intention to pursue their career in engineering whereas socio-cultural values of a society have strong influences on students’ motivation to pursue careers in engineering in general. Additionally, some strategies are proposed to attract young girls to pursue engineering courses, as well as for current female engineering students to continue their studies and choose professions in the field as their career.     

Contribution of historical Spanish inventions to the knowledge of olive oil industrial heritage

This article presents new research, which has the objective of quantifying the knowledge produced by historical technological innovations in the field of olive oil industrial heritage. It studies inventions related to the mechanical processes of the extraction of olive oil between 1826 and 1966, which are recorded in the Historical Archive of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office. It uses a new adaptation of the methodology of knowledge management (KM) defined by Nonaka and Takeuchi. We have obtained the knowledge value of each innovation according to the level of technological knowledge registered at the time, while distinguishing between the historical evolution of inventions relating to milling and those relating to pressing. In the first analysis, the results show a recession in the quantitative level of knowledge in the olive oil sector with respect to the technological potential of the time. However, when contrasted with the events relating to industrial heritage at the time, it is possible to account for this technological evolution and prove the validity of the methodology used. The results show that general evolution of the knowledge generated has decreased, particularly in the pressing process, although this is not the case in the milling process.     

Islamic glasses from Al-Andalus. Characterisation of materials from a Murcian workshop (12th century AD, Spain)

Rescue archaeological excavations at an urban glass workshop of the 12th century AD in the city of Murcia (Spain) have provided one of the few evidences of glass production in the ancient Islamic territory of Al-Andalus. This paper reports the results derived from a chemical–physical characterisation study carried out on a representative sample set of glass fragments and industrial debris from that workshop. The main objectives of the research were to contribute to the knowledge of the type of glasses produced and provide some insights into the technology developed to obtain different colours in glasses. The resulting data indicated that both high-magnesia plant ash (HMG) soda-lime-silicate and soda-lime lead-silicate glasses were produced. They also indicated a deep knowledge of glass colouring techniques, which suggests that a careful control over the glass melting processes was achieved. Among others, the occurrence of bulk-coloured silver yellow and copper ruby red transparent glasses prove the skills reached by Murcian glassmakers. These results shed new light on the Islamic glass technology of a geographical area in which, up to now, little compositional and technological data from glass workshops were available.     

Manufacturing expedients in medieval ceramics in Apulia

A group of 51 shards of medieval polychrome glazed pottery, coming from Canosa castle archaeological site (Bari, Italy), has been investigated through surface analytical techniques, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and elemental ones, such as Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP–OES) and Absorption Atomic Spectroscopy (AAS) by flame and electro-thermal atomisation. The investigation was aimed at defining the elemental composition of pottery findings, identifying pigments and clarifying glaze types. The results of the analytical characterization allowed the identification of materials and technological expedients used for pottery manufacturing, highlighting original features in the production of the investigated pottery.The quantitative analysis performed on ceramic paste, glaze and painted decorations provided a significant number of results, thus enabling their effective exploitation for multivariate statistical techniques, in order to find out possible groups of pottery items with defined similarity within the samples.     

The glass-melting furnace and the crucibles of Südel (1723–1741, Switzerland): provenance of the raw materials and new evidence of high thermal performances

Fifty crucible fragments and 10 fragments of the melting furnace of the forest glassworks of Südel (1723–1741, Ct. Luzern), were analyzed by petrographic, mineralogical and chemical techniques in order to assess the temperature reached in the melting chamber and to find out which raw materials were used to make the crucibles and the melting furnace. Since the crucibles were used in the melting furnace, the temperature estimations were based on both the crucibles and the refractory fragments, as they were parts of the same system. The temperature range in the melting chamber, estimated by the structural order of the new-formed cristobalite, points to a temperature range between 1350 and 1500 °C. However, three crucible samples recorded extreme temperatures as high as 1650 °C, suggesting very high flame temperatures for wood fuel. The analyzed red bricks were made with local calcium-poor clay. One of them was tempered with refractory fragments, demonstrating an in-house production and the recycling of such a material after its use. The crucibles and the refractory bricks were made with the same refractory clay. The former using unprocessed clay and the latter blending clay with chamotte. A comparison with Sidérolithique clayey sand samples from the Swiss Jura, shows strong affinities which may rule out the archaeological hypothesis of an exclusive provenance of such clays from Germany, suggesting an import from the Swiss Jura mountains.     

An hedonic analysis of American collectable comic-book prices

A well-documented instance of the establishment and evolution of a modern market is that of the American collectable comic-book market. The development of this can be reliably traced from inception to the present day. A sample of 1,100 American collectable comic-books is subjected to an hedonic analysis to determine the relative contribution of pricing components (predictor variables) to the market price. Issues arising from the model’s significance and predictive power are addressed in terms of provenance (path dependency of price). The history of the market is examined in terms of the dates by which predictive variables were introduced. The difficulty of obtaining a universal pricing rule is considered, and conclusions are drawn regarding the form and value of such a rule.     

Archaeometric and geological constraints for the provenance of carbonatic breccias used in monumental works along the Flaminia Consular Road (Umbria-Marche, Central Italy)

Along the Umbria-Marche stretch of the Flaminia Consular Road (220 B.C.) several archaeological finds of the most important monumental works, are well preserved. The stones, employed to build many bridges, substructions and sewerages, are represented by carbonatic breccias whose geological environment of formation and source areas had never been established. On the basis of mineralogical, petrographic and micropalaeontological analyses, two groups of these lithotypes employed in Roman age were distinguished: “monogenic carbonatic breccias” only constituted by clasts of the Maiolica Unit (Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous) and “polygenic carbonatic breccias” made of fragments (in different proportions) of Calcare Massiccio (Early Jurassic), Corniola (Early Jurassic), Maiolica (Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous) and Scaglia Rossa (Late Cretaceous – Early Paleogene) Units. The possible source areas of the breccias are compatible with stratified slope-waste to scarp-base deposits of periglacial origin belonging to the Upper Pleistocene. In particular, among the seven investigated areas, we pointed out the most probable provenances (Monte Faeto-Colle, Costacciaro, Scirca, Foci, Secchiano) along the flanks of the Apennine Mesozoic chain of the Umbria and Marche regions. Although the Romans could have exploited the whole thickness of some outcrops (now disappeared) of these carbonatic lithotypes at the deepest part of the valleys, we have constrained a local provenance of the breccias so commonly used in the monumental works of the Flaminia.