Application of physical–chemical analytical techniques in the study of ancient ceramics Original Research Article

The results of the study of 53 ceramic fragments from several archaeological deposits, supposedly Tartessian, are shown in this manuscript. Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy combined with scanning electron microscopy have been used for determining the color, the chemical and mineralogical composition, and interesting microstructures like microorganisms, tempers, vitrifications, and crystal formation. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry has been used in order to determine the percentage of the eight major chemical elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe). They are always present in ceramic pastes and tempers. Statistical processing, including cluster analysis, is made using the obtained results. Given these data, some aspects of ceramic production can be deduced and the pieces can be compared. The correlation of these results with archaeological data, about if sites belongs to Tartessian times, has validated this methodology. In addition, it has supported the archaeological methodology.