Production Technology of Roman Lead‐glazed Pottery and Its Continuance Into Late Antiquity

Dados Bibliográficos

ID8352665
AutoresMarc Walton (0000-0002-4436-3546, Getty Conservation Institute), M S WALTON, M S Tite (0000-0002-6835-4441, University of Oxford)
Ano2010
Volume52
Fascículo5
Páginas733-759
Data de publicação2010-10-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoArchaeometry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0003-813X • E-ISSN: 1475-4754
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1475-4754.2009.00506.x
OpenAlexW1562066581
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas56
Referências citadas17

A broad selection of Roman lead‐glazed pottery dating from the first century ad through the fifth century ad was studied to establish locations of workshops and to address their technology of production. The ceramic bodies were analysed by ICP–AES. In addition, lead isotope analysis was undertaken on a selection of glazes. These findings suggested that there were several regions responsible for the production of lead‐glazed ceramics in the western Roman world, including central Gaul, Italy and, probably, Serbia and Romania. Using the body compositions as a starting point, the glazing techniques employed by each of the potential workshops were examined using electron probe microanalysis. It was determined that there were two primary methods of glazing. The first method used lead oxide by itself applied to non‐calcareous clay bodies, and the second method used a lead oxide‐plus‐quartz mixture applied to calcareous clay bodies. Based on these data for clay composition and glazing method, transfer of technology from the Hellenistic east to the western Roman world was proposed. Likewise, the inheritance of lead‐glazing technology into late antiquity was established by making comparisons to lead‐glazed ceramics dating to the seventh to ninth centuries from Italy, the Byzantine world and Tang Dynasty China

Ancient history · Archaeological science · Archaeology · Art · Composite material · Geography · Glazing · Lead (geology) · Lead oxide · Metallurgy · Pottery · Building materials and conservation · Conservation Techniques and Studies · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis · Geology · History · Materials Science