Local and imported punic pottery (IV -III century B.C.) from Tharros (Western Sardinia, Italy)

In the present paper 71 Fragments of Punic pottery (IV-III century B.C.) coming from Tharros (eastern Sardinia, Italy) were studied from an archaeometric point of view. The main objectives of this study was to distinguish local and imported productions. To this purpose both ceramics and local clay raw materials were taken into consideration. The following investigation techniques were used: optical microscopy, x-ray diffractometry, x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, thermal analyses, scanning electron microscopy, granulometric analyses. Petrographic and chemical analyses pointed out the existence of three different types bodies, among representative of the local production. The comparison between the results relative to ceramics and raw materials allowed confirming this hypothesis. The local raw material used is a messinian clayey silt, which is known in literature as “Capo san Marco Formation”. Usually a quantify of calcareous sand was added up to 30%. By considering the conservation state of the calcareous grains and the presence of neo-formed phases, very different firing temperatures were deduced, from 650 to over 950°C approximately. The firings were always performed in oxiding atmosphere. As decorations are regarded, it was possible to establish that the presence of noticeable amounts of haematite is responsible of the red colour, while trace of manganese are responsible of the black colour.