Hidden in the clay. Unveiling the tradition of handmade pottery in Roman Thrace through an integrated analytical approach

Bibliographic Data

ID24140010
AuthorsPetra Tušlová (0000-0002-9744-1907, Charles University, corresponding author), Silvia Amicone (0000-0001-8237-7044, University College London, corresponding author), Veronika Brychová (0000-0002-3624-2955, Czech Academy of Sciences, Nuclear Physics Institute, corresponding author), Richard Thér (0000-0001-6253-5148, University of Hradec Králové, corresponding author), Noémi S Müller (0000-0002-8767-1784, British School at Athens, corresponding author), Karolína Králová (0000-0002-4582-5079, University of Hradec Králové, corresponding author), Martina Kohoutková (0000-0003-2815-3685, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, corresponding author), Evangelia Kiriatzi (0000-0001-6631-2670, British School at Athens, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume18
Issue9
Publication date2026-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchaeological and Anthropological Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1866-9557 • E-ISSN: 1866-9565
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s12520-026-02543-0
OpenAlexW7204272646
LanguageEN
References cited45

Handmade pottery is among the most enduring yet least understood ceramic traditions of Roman Thrace. Long regarded as a simple household craft and primarily interpreted as a marker of local “Thracian” identity, it has rarely been examined as a dynamic cultural practice. To address this gap, this study adopts an integrated multidisciplinary approach to investigate handmade pottery from rural settlements along the Tundzha River in the Roman province of Thrace, focusing on its production, circulation, and use. Petrographic, mineralogical, and chemical analyses identified three distinct ceramic fabrics linked to local clay sources, enabling the reconstruction of regional production zones. Each settlement yielded both locally produced and imported vessels, demonstrating the coexistence of localized production and regional pottery circulation. Notably, all imported vessels originated from the same area of Monastery Heights, approximately 40 km away. Micro-CT analysis of representative samples from all three ceramic fabrics revealed a shared sequential slab-building technique and two interchangeable methods of handle attachment, indicating a common technological tradition across the region. Together, the evidence points to small-scale, decentralized ceramic production based on locally available raw materials. Organic residue analysis indicates that the vessels were primarily used for storing and preparation of animal meat and/or fat, while the presence of beeswax suggests deliberate surface coating. Collectively, these findings reveal a resilient regional craft tradition that persisted within the Roman provincial landscape and indicate that the regional circulation of these vessels was driven by their specialized function.

Archaeological science · Craft · Human settlement · Pottery · Settlement (finance) · Weaving · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis