ARCHAEOMETRIC ANALYSES

The analysis purpose is to clarify the connections between Baetican amphora workshops and the amphoras found in Testaccio

The major number of possible physic-chemical analyses and statistics are needed to match amphora sherds to their place of origin. When there are budget cutbacks, it should be taken in account that some analyses are more relevant and exhaustive than others.


Macroscopic observation of a ceramic fragment
Difference between clays from two tipologies of amphorae can be seen, north-Africa amphorae and its black heart wich show how it was coked


Optic-electronic observation (SEM). Picture shows descomposition of calcite and the possible formation of a new mineral. This suggest a cooking temperature over 750ºC


Mineralogic analysis of X-ray difraction. Mineralogic types after cooking and abandoned process can be seen with difractometric traces


Diferential termical analisys and termoponderal inform about effects on the material when it’s exposed to high temperature: transformations, dried up, decomposition, transition of phase, change in weight.

Número de inventario

Dosis total (Gy)

Dosis anual (mGy/anno)

Edad TL (años)

Datación arqueológica

4/13 6,73±0,65 3,56±0,27 1890±188 I-II sec. d.C.
4/12 8,18±0,83 4,40±0,31 1859±186 I-II sec. d.C.
81/215 7,30±0,82 4,38±0,33 1667±180 II-III sec. d.C.
81/211 7,26±0,49 4,50±0,32 1613±142 II-III sec. d.C.
81/55 6,34±0,71 3,61±0,29 1756±194 II-III sec. d.C.
88/02 7,93±1,10 4,36±0,39 1819±208 I sec. d.C.
88/01 8,50±0,81 4,38±0,30 1941±216 I sec. d.C.
88/140 8,26±0,60 4,19±0,29 1971±167 I sec. d.C.

Termoluminiscence results used for dating of baetican amphorae..

For our purpose petrological analyses and chemical studies combined with statistics were the most suitable. In today’s research, combining of these three methodologies together with geology is essential to match amphoras from the Testaccio to its places of origin.


Stadistic elaboration. Stadistics can be done, after chemical analisys, in order to make diagrams.
In this case to show origin of african amphorae.