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When archaeometric studies on archaeological ceramics are performed, one of the most important questions asked by archaeologists is the provenance of pottery. This is usually performed by comparing mineropetrographic and chemical composition of ceramics with that of local raw materials (clays, temper), production indicators and appropriate reference groups. Nevertheless, the commonly-used analytical techniques (e.g. OM, SEM-EDS, XRF, ICP-MS) may not always be helpful for the determination of provenance. Indeed, processing of raw materials, such as tempering or levigation, can significantly modify their original chemical composition, sometimes leading to an ineffective identification of raw material resources. For this reason, a pioneering analytical approach has been recently applied by measuring the Sr and Nd isotopic signature. Isotope analysis has largely used in archaeological sciences to date objects and identify their provenance, making it also a useful tool for the determination of provenance of ceramic vessels (De Bonis et al., 2018 and references therein). For this study, 87Sr/86Sr and 143Nd/144Nd isotope ratios were measured on archaeological pottery from Campania and raw materials (clays and volcanic temper) exploited in antiquity for producing ceramics. The analyses were focused on samples from both the Bay of Naples and Southern Campania. The isotope signatures allowed us to better discriminate among different productions and find a strong relationship between the archaeological pottery and the geological sources of raw materials. In order to validate the method, Sr-Nd isotope ratios were also measured for the first time on experimental ceramic materials that replicate archaeological pottery (De Bonis et al., 2018). It was interesting to note that synthetic mixtures used for the ceramic replicas plot exactly on the theoretical mixing curve between the clay and volcanic temper end-members. This suggests that the artificial manipulation of raw materials (firing, levigation, tempering) induces no significant variations to the Sr-Nd isotope fingerprint, which strictly depends on the geochemical affinity of the raw materials. Thus, isotopic analysis can be considered as an effective and robust method that could complement the common multi-analytical approach in order to more precisely constrain potential geological sources for ceramic materials and pottery provenance. De Bonis, A., Arienzo I., D’Antonio, M., Franciosi, L., Germinario, C., Grifa, C., Guarino, V., Langella, A. & Morra, V. (2018): Sr-Nd isotopic fingerprint as a tool for ceramic provenance: application on raw materials, ceramic replicas and ancient pottery. J. Archaeol. Sci., 94, 51-59.

This study provides new data and a reappraisal of the literature concerning the uppermost Cretaceous-Paleogene stratigraphy, biostratigraphy, tectonics and magmatism in the southern Apennines, with the aim of demonstrating the occurrence of an Albian to Paleogene abortive rifting stage in the southern Adria domain. This interval marks an important discontinuity in the tectono-stratigraphic evolution primarily recorded by coeval uplift and drowning of different sectors of the Apennine and Apulian Platforms, which locally produced a change in the paleoenvironment, from shallow-water platform to slope and basin facies deposits or the development of thick bauxitic levels. Contemporaneously, in the surrounding basins a large amount of calciclastic sediments was deposited, testifying for an increased sediment supply from the emerging sectors of the carbonate platforms. This time interval was also characterized by the occurrence of anorogenic magmatism and syn-sedimentary extensional faulting that, together with the changed sedimentary facies distribution, point out for a crustal-scale extensional tectonics. Timing, distance from the actively growing eastern Alps and, above all, orientation of extensional structures and synchronous anorogenic magmatism poorly fit with a peripheral bulge stage related with the first pulses of the Alpine collision. We propose an alternative model where such an event is the result of a rifting episode, characterized by limited anorogenic magmatism, starting in the Albian and reaching its climax in the uppermost Cretaceous-Eocene times. In the proposed tectonic scenario the extensional tectonics recorded in several sectors of the Adria domain was synchronous with that affecting the Hyblean (Sicily), Pelagian (Tunisia) and Sirte Basin Province Rift (Libya) to the south and was part of a single abortive rift system, which extended from the Sirte Basin up to the southern margin of the Thetyan Ocean to the NW.

Pontecagnano (SE of Salerno) archaeological site, the ancient town of Amina (renamed “Picentia” by the Romans) is the largest Etruscan outpost in the south (Camporeale, 2013; Cerchiai, 2013; Cuozzo, 2013). Archaeological investigations - started since the 1960s - certify the area has been inhabited as early as late Neolithic. At the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC the area was settled by peoples of Gaudo culture, probably immigrated from Anatolia. Gaudo population worked metals, as testified from copper daggers and other weapons excavated from more than 9.000 tombs in the area. The National Archaeological Museum of the Agro Picentino was instituted in 2007 and contains more than 8000 findings mainly related to tomb outfits (Tocco, 2007). The main Etruscan settlement was founded between the end of the X and beginning of IX century b.C. on the left side of the Picentino river. The period of its greatest development was the “Orientalizing” age (end of VIII-VII century b.C.), when great and wealthy aristocratic families (the so-called “Princes”) took the power, as also testified by precious artifacts found in the Pontecagnano burials. Then, the settlement took urban connotations, becoming a frontier community. This work deals with mineralogical and geochemical characterization of various metallic artifacts spanning in age from early Eneolithic/Bronze Age to IV century b.C. by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and micro Xray fluorescence m-XRF. The objects are of different types (fibulae, rings, earrings, spears, pins, ingots, slags, etc.), and are mainly composed of lead, copper, silver and bronze. The bronze artifacts are high-Sn (17.3 to 27.4 %, Sn), as expected by ancient alloys; lead and iron, as well as titanium and nickel to a lesser extent, can be also present as minor to trace components. The silver artifacts can contain small amounts of copper, iron and gold; in one case a copper object (91.4 % Cu) also shows other metallic components, as lead (4.8 %), bismuth (2.6 %) and iron (1.1 %). Interesting microstructures are also observed. Finally, the combined use of two spectroscopic techniques allowed us to verify the potential of m-XRF in archaeometallurgy sector in order to carry out non-destructive and non-invasive analyses. Camporeale G. 2013. Vetulonia e Pontecagnano. Due centri etruschi della prima età del Ferro. In: F. Cerchiai L. (2013) Tra Capua e Pontecagnano. La valle del Sarno e la Campania interna tra il Ferro e l’Orientalizzante. In: F. Rafanelli (Ed.) Vetulonia, Pontecagnano e Capua. Vite parallele di tre città etrusche. ARA Edizioni, 30-33. Cuozzo M. 2013. I “principi” di Pontecagnano. In: F. Rafanelli (Ed.) Vetulonia, Pontecagnano e Capua. Vite parallele di tre città etrusche. ARA Edizioni, 40-43. Tocco G. 2007. Guida al Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Pontecagnano. Soprintendenza Beni Archeologici SA-AV-BN, 50 p.

Excavations carried out in Cuma by the Centre Jean Bérard archaeologists have uncovered a large quantity of pottery. This study is focused on cooking ware and on internal red-slip cookware, also known as Pompeian Red Ware (Rosso Pompeiano), dated from the first century bc to the first century ad. A comparison with the minero-petrographic composition of beach sands collected along the Bay of Naples coastline highlights the provenance of the temper from the Somma-Vesuvius area, marked by leucite-bearing scoriae and garnet. Petrochemical analyses allow us to distinguish two main groups of pottery characterized by different technological options based on the amount of temper and on the type of clay. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope data demonstrate improved accuracy in the production of Rosso Pompeiano, especially with regard to firing control, which was in a prevailing oxidizing atmosphere and in a narrow thermal range, between about 800 and 900°C.

We performed petrophysical analyses on 34 clayey samples of different geological origin within the Campania region of Italy in order to determine possible sources of raw materials used to produce ancient pottery. Possible raw material sources can be grouped into high-CaO clays (HCC) and low-CaO clays (LCC). HCC are mainly represented by more recent (Miocene-Pleistocene) basinal sediments whereas LCC tend to be associated with basinal, alluvial, and pyroclastic deposits. A chemical comparison between clayey raw materials, modern ceramic replicas, and Campanian archaeological ceramics of several typologies (common ware, cooking ware, fine tableware, amphorae, and bricks) from 8th century B.C. to the Middle Ages (a total of 350 ceramic samples) indicates that HCC were extensively used for common wares and that these were either mixed with temper or levigated. In contrast, most of the LCC were used for the production of cookware. We also analyzed the technological potential of the sampled raw materials, taking into consideration their actual and possible uses. We observed that most HCC deposits were well suited for tableware and amphorae, whereas LCC were better for cookware and some fine tableware.

This contribution provides a general picture of pottery circulating between the coast, the Campanian hinterland, and the Apennines in the second half of the fifth century. The published data from the excavations in Neapolis are matched with new unpublished evidence from the inland, in particular from many sites around Nola and a bath complex from the northern slopes of the Vesuvius, which has been excavated since 2007. The archaeological sites in the environs of the Vesuvius are especially relevant for this study, because they have been covered by the volcanoclastic deposits of the AD 472 eruption, hence providing a clear terminus ante quem for the chronology and a snapshot of the circulation of goods within a very narrow time frame. Moreover, this paper will focus on some micro-regional productions and their distribution within the Apennine region. Supported by archaeometric analyses, the study of these artefacts suggests new patterns of trade that move beyond traditional economic models.

The Massif d'Ambre is the largest stratovolcano (similar to 2500 km(2)) in the Cenozoic igneous province of northern Madagascar. It is broadly elongated in a N-S direction and is formed by hundreds of lava flows, plugs, spatter cones, tuff rings, pyroclastic flows, and pyroclastic fall deposits. New Ar-40-Ar-39 age determinations for lavas of Massif d'Ambre and Bobaomby Peninsula (the northernmost tip of Madagascar) yield ages of 12.1 +/- 0.2 Ma and 10.56 +/- 0.09 Ma. These ages indicate that at least part of the volcanic activity of the Bobaomby Peninsula occurred later than the beginning of the activity of the Massif d'Ambre. The volcanic products of Massif d'Ambre are mildly to strongly alkaline (with sodic affinity) to tholeiitic with very limited amounts of evolved magmas. The mafic rocks have compositions similar to those of primitive mantle-derived magmas (MgO >10 wt%, Cr and Ni >400 and >200 ppm, respectively). The strongly alkaline suite shows a liquid line of descent from basanite to phonolite, dominated by fractional crystallization of clinopyroxene and olivine. The mafic rocks (basanites, alkali basalts, transitional and tholeiitic basalts) have Zr/Nb (2.4-5.8), Ba/Nb (7-24) and La/Nb (0.7-1.1) ratios typical of incompatible element-rich within-plate basalts. The primitive mantle-normalized incompatible element patterns of the Massif d'Ambre mafic rocks are characterized by peaks at Nb and troughs at K, and are identical in shape and absolute abundances to those of the Nosy Be and Bobaomby (Cap d'Ambre) basanites. The range of (La/Yb)(n) ratios (9-24) indicates that the Massif d'Ambre primitive compositions are the product of variable degrees of partial melting (4%-12%) of a broadly similar and slightly incompatible element-enriched mantle source. Initial Sr-87/Sr-86 and Nd-143/Nd-144 ratios of alkali basalts and basanites vary from 0.70326 to 0.70359 and 0.51279 to 0.51286, respectively. Alkali basalts and basanites have little variation in Pb-206/Pb-204 (19.073-19.369), Pb-207/Pb-204 (15.613-15.616), and Pb-208/Pb-204 (39.046-39.257). This range is well within that of Sr-Nd-Pb isotope values of the basanites of the Nosy Be Archipelago, thus again confirming substantially similar source compositions throughout northern Madagascar.

Mineralogical and petrographical studies on 23 ancient pottery fragments of terra sigillata from ancient Cates (today Calvi Risorta, Caserta) are here discussed. Stamps on pottery surfaces assigned the fragments to Cales and other Italian workshops acting in Arezzo and Northern Italy area between 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D., other stamped fragments have an uncertain provenance. The mineralogical and petrographical features of pastes have been detected using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and DTA-DTG analyses. The geochemical comparisons among ceramics, production indicators of Calenian pottery (Black Glazed pottery spacers) and local clayey raw materials allowed to distinguish locally produced potsherds from imported ones. Moreover, the whole archaeological and archaeometric data set allowed to draw main technological aspects of a fine ware production much used on rich roman tables.

The purpose of this research is to provide a new mixture of Campanian zeolitized tuffs for solving two specific problems in the production of white wines: the protein and tartaric stability. In fact, a very frequent cause of turbidity and formation of organic deposits in white wines is the occurrence of thermolabile and thermostable proteins colloidal suspensions which precipitate in time, especially in summertime and during the storage and transport. Normally, to mitigate this risk wine producers use organic and inorganic stabilizers and clarifiers. The best known treatment, recognized also by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) foresees the use of bentonite with a montmorillonite content not lower than 80%. The present paper aims at evaluating the use of two high zeolite grade Italian volcanoclastites such as the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff (NYT) and the Yellow Facies of the Campanian Ignimbrite (YFCI), in the treatment of three peculiar white wines of the Campanian region (Southern Italy): Falanghina, Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo. Granulates were produced starting from tuff blocks as provided by quarries. Some grain size fractions have been prepared to investigate the zeolite content (phillipsite + chabazite + analcime) by X-ray diffraction (XRD). A 2-5 mm grain size fraction was chosen for NYT and a 5-10 mm for YFCI. Three Campanian monocultivar white wines were used for the test: the Falanghina 2006 vintage, the Fiano di Avellino DOCG 2007 vintage, and the Greco di Tufo DOCG 2008 vintage. 48 samples with mixture of the zeolitized tuffs, 1 sample with mixture of a synthetic zeolite A and 1 sample with mixture of a commercial sodium activated bentonite were prepared. ICP-OES analysis for the determination of ECEC, Ion Chromatography (IC) analyses for the determination of some major cations and Turbidimetric tests for the definition of the protein stabilization process before and after treatments were also carried out. It was evidenced that high zeolitized tuff/wine ratios enable the protein stabilization whereas a significant decrease of potassium ion after the treatment with a zeolite-rich powder improves the tartaric stability, a serious problem in all the wine productions. The results of these tests refer to a laboratory scale research. A transfer of the experiment to a pilot plant scale is in progress.

The Tomb of the Diver has been subject for many decades of fierce debate among archaeologists and classicists. Since its discovery in 1968, some scholars have considered it a unique example of the lost tradition of Greek painting, others have emphasized Etruscan or Italic parallels. More recently, a possible local production has been suggested. With the aim of trying to solve the archaeological question, an archaeometric comparison among this well-known artwork and several frescoed tombs coming from Hellenistic and Lucan necropolis was carried out. The multi-analytical study was focused on the identification of peculiar features of executive techniques and raw materials since the first period of the archaeological site. The analytical investigation has been preliminary based on a non-destructive approach, performed in-situ by portable equipment including imaging diagnostics and compositional spectroscopic techniques for identifying pigments and the conservation state of original painted surface; subsequently, a further deepening by using destructive techniques was performed in-lab for the mortar-based supports characterization. Archaeometric study suggested that technological choices slightly changed in a time span of about two centuries, highlighting important markers that allow clustering the contemporary artistic productions. Moreover, a comparison with mortars from temples decorations was provided to better understand the whole artistic context. The archaeometric data showed that the Tomb of the Diver could be traced back to a local artisanal tradition and therefore is neither Etruscan nor Greek, but the first and foremost an expression of the local elite culture of Paestum.

Protohistoric metal objects coming from the archaeological sites of Pontecagnano (Salerno, Italy) and Striano (Naples, Italy), preserved in the Pontecagnano National Archaeological Museum and the Paleontological Museum of Naples University “Federico II” have been studied by means of an archaeometric approach. A multi-analytical procedure including X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), micro X-ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) and lead isotope ratio mass spectrometry (LIRMS), was used to characterize these objects thus providing hypotheses on the possible provenance of metallic raw materials. The investigated samples are represented by lead, silver, copper and tin bronze-based objects. Corrosion processes affecting the bronze objects were recognized as well as crusts and patinae at different stages of evolution. LIRMS analyses suggested that most of Pontecagnano artifacts were manufactured with metals from southern Tuscany, where important metal reserves were located. On the other hand, due to the limited number of samples, the provenance of the Striano objects cannot be unambiguously identified although data so far available suggest a Sardinian source.

Thirty artefacts from the Archaeological Park of Paestum were investigated by means of scientific techniques on the occasion of the 2016 exhibition 'Possessione. Trafugamenti e falsi di antichita a Paestum'. The multi-analytic diagnostic campaign was aimed at identifying forgeries. Results provided a deeper understanding of both ancient technology and contemporary forgery techniques.

The technological performance of a chabazite-rich rock belonging to the Campanian Ignimbrite formation, outcropping in the nearby of San Mango sul Calore (southern Italy), has been evaluated for the sorption and release of ibuprofen sodium salt after a surface modification of the starting geomaterial using two different chlorinated surfactants. Equilibrium sorption isotherms and in vitro loading tests demonstrated that the maximum sorption capacities of this geomaterial reach up to 24.5 and 13.5 mg/g, respectively, for zeolite modified with cetylpyridinium and benzalkonium. These results, obtained by non-linear mathematical modeling of the experimental curves, are definitely compatible with the concentrations of the most common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) in wastewaters, which have been recently considered as contaminants of emerging concern. This investigation also encourages a new possible sustainable exploitation of the lithified yellow facies of Campanian Ignimbrite, although future developments will be focused on using more stable and eco-friendlier two-tailed surfactants.

The Bobaomby volcanic field (10–11 Ma) is the northernmost volcanic area of Madagascar, and is a monogenetic volcanic field comprising outcrops of lava flows, dykes, scoria cones, tuff rings and plugs, widely scattered over an area of roughly 500 km2. The volcanic rocks range in composition from nephelinite, basanite and tephrite, through tephritic phonolite, to F- and Cl-rich peralkaline phonolite (MgO from 13 to 0.01 wt%), and the serial affinity varies from sodic to potassic. A few mica-amphibole-rich lamprophyric dykes have tephritic composition and ultrapotassic affinity. The mafic lavas host intrusive xenoliths with evident cumulate features (wehrlites, composite olivine gabbros s.l., amphibole clinopyroxenites and “kaersutitites”), as well as various types of mantle-derived xenoliths and xenocrysts in the most primitive rocks. The very wide compositional variations of the observed phases (olivine, clinopyroxene, amphibole, oxides, feldspars, feldspathoids, apatite, titanite, aenigmatite and other accessories) in lavas, dykes and cognate xenoliths are fully consistent with the variable degree of differentiation of the host lavas/dykes, and pointing out to limited open-system or polybaric crystallization. The mafic lavas have marked enrichment in incompatible elements and light rare-earth element (LREE) (e.g., Lan/Ybn = 19–27), whereas concave REE patterns are found in the peralkaline phonolites, as a result of removal of accessory titanite starting from tephritic phonolite magmas. The gabbroic/ultramafic xenoliths are interpreted as crustal cumulates of basanitic and tephritic magmas. Several liquid lines of descent in the basanites and tephrites are evident from the trace-element distribution, and from the differing geochemistry of the evolved rocks. The isotopic compositions reach extreme values (e.g., 206Pb/204Pb = 20.065 in the ultrapotassic lamprophyre) when compared to the rest of the Cenozoic/Recent Madagascan volcanic rocks, but similar to those of the Comoros archipelago, suggesting analogies of mantle sources and enrichment processes in the lithosphere of this volcanic archipelago. The origin of the Bobaomby mafic rocks is compatible from a derivation from low degree partial melting of an incompatible element-enriched peridotite source (possibly located in the lowermost lithospheric mantle) rich in volatile-rich phases (pargasite, locally also phlogopite and possibly carbonates), matching the sources of other Cenozoic volcanic areas throughout Madagascar, and perhaps Comoros.

Porcelain stone used at the early kilns of Arita, Japan, has never been identified due to the lack of written records. Ryumon and Shirakawa deposits are considered to have possibly been exploited before Izumiyama was discovered in the early 1630s, but there are no records or any previous scientific research aimed at resolving such crucial issue. This work presents the first systematic scientific study of clays from the three deposits and shards excavated at early kiln sites. Portable ED-XRF and SEM-EDS were used to identify the chemical compositions of bodies, glazes, and geochemical characteristics of clays. XRD, TG-DSC, and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy were also used for the mineralogical characterization of clay bodies. Results show that the earliest production was marked by the mineralogical characteristics of the available raw materials. A gradual improvement in material selection and processing will lead to the development of the nigoshide (milky-white) body in the mid-17th century.

The history of brick manufacturing in Madagascar dates back to the early 1800 s when European colonisers imparted to the local population the basic knowledge for firing clayey sediment to obtain a more durable construction material. The evaluation of the entire production cycle accounting for the involved natural resources such as raw materials, fuels and derived bricks, represents the aim of this research started in 2015 and focused on both rural and urban contexts. Clayey raw materials from lateritic soils widely occur in central Madagascar whereas, in southern coastal sites, carbonate-bearing clays definitely prevail since their composition are influenced by the reef. Bricks are prepared on site with no additional manipulation of the base clay and, depending on the climatic conditions, the bricks are dried and fired from one week up to ten days. Furnaces are powered by rice husk in south-western part of the island whereas in central Madagascar the use of peat and wood was also recorded. The calorific performances of these common fuels allow achieving temperatures of 800–900 °C; however, the huge loss of heat due to the poor quality of the furnaces determine low equivalent firing temperatures (EFT) that negatively affect the quality of the bricks. The above described ceramic process has remained unchanged for more than 200 years and even if new social and economic opportunities arose, this unvirtuous system slowly (but inexorably) contributed to the impoverishment of important energy sources and, above all, of natural resources.

Since 1960s, mortars have been exploited as a potential material for radiocarbon dating and, despite the fact that this methodology appears very simple in its principles, some measured radiocarbon ages were definitely different from the expected historic ages. The paper concerns to the characterisation of mortars from three Andalusian castles (Spain) by means of different mineralogical techniques in order to control “contamination effect” that could affect age estimation. Several mixtures of binders and aggregates composed the archaeological mortars; lime-based or gypsum-based binders were distinguished whereas the aggregates varied from carbonates to intrusive igneous rocks. The radiocarbon dating provided good results for lime-based mortars with silicate aggregate; conversely, for other specimens the method for sample preparation (Cryo2SoniC) was improved increasing the ultrasonic time and decreasing the mesh size. The research points out the importance of a multi-analytical approach aimed at improving a widely accepted protocol for 14C dating of archaeological mortars.

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This paper focuses on the application of external reflection Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy for the classification of some minerals commonly used as gemstones and mineral collection: quartz (colourless, tourmalinated and smoky varieties), calcite and aragonite. The results highlight the differences between reflectance and absorbance spectra, allowing a faster, cheaper and non-destructive approach for the identification of monocrystalline minerals.

Industrial minerals, particularly bentonites, have long been used in treatments to improve the stability and shelf life of white wines. We evaluated a new combination of rocks and minerals, including steam-treated bentonites and natural zeolites (chabazite and phillipsite), to greatly reduce the risk of protein and tartaric instability of wines. Detailed mineralogical, chemical and electrokinetic studies of these materials were conducted using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), microporosimetry, BET surface-area analysis and zeta-potential measurements. Several model wine solutions containing Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) were prepared to evaluate the oenological performance of the rock/mineral combinations. UV-VIS spectrophotometry and ion chromatography were used to evaluate the degree of wine stabilization from the protein and tartaric point of view.The experimental results showed that steam treatment modifies both the microporosity and external surface area of the bentonite. These changes in surface area, along with creation of hydrophobic surfaces, significantly modified the behaviour of the steam-treated bentonites, requiring an increase in the amount of material necessary to bring the protein content to required levels. An important benefit derived from the use of steam-treated bentonites is that the pre-mixing with water before addition to wine is not necessary, as the material is readily dispersed. Finally, the addition of natural zeolites effectively decreased the potassium content, thereby improving the tartaric stability of white wines. In addition, this procedure results in minimal waste, as the bentonite-zeolite mixture can be reused as soil amendments in agriculture.

Domus of Octavius Quartio occupies the entire insula 2 of Region II in Pompeii, representing one of the most important village of this archaeological site. An interdisciplinary approach has been adopted in order to plan conservative, preventive and restoration actions aimed at the requalification of Pompeii within the frame of "Grande Progetto Pompei" program. 3D Laser scanner surveys and damage diagnosis following Fitzner's method were carried out. The identification and description of weathering forms was carried out using ICOMOS-ISCS and NorMaL 1/88 recommendations, readapted and reinterpreted also for frescoes. Ten different weathering forms were identified; the frescoed room and the fountain are mainly affected by fissures, convex deformations, lacuna, efflorescence, discoloration, moist areas and patinas; the surrounding wall shows back weathering due to the disaggregation of bedding mortars; moreover the blocks are interested by rounding and biological colonization (lichens). Mapping the areal distribution of weathering forms and defining the damage categories, allowed an estimation of the linear and progressive damage index. Actually, a good conservation state of frescoed room (1.5 - 2.0) and fountain (0.7 - 1.2) was identified; a definitely worse conservation state, instead, was observed in the external wall, where the highest progressive damage index value (3) was measured.

Bulk-rock and mineralogical characterization of massive samples (lava flows, lava domes, scoria, spatter), chosen to be representative of different activity periods and of the whole known compositional range of Ischia island (Roman Magmatic Province, Campanian district) is reported in this paper. The rocks vary in composition from shoshonites to peralkaline trachyphonolites. Crystallization started with Al-rich chromite inclusions and their host magnesian olivine in shoshonites and latites, and ended with lavenite, rinkite, kochite, hiortdahlite, hainite, Mn-aenigmatite, britholite and Ti–Zr-rich aegirine in the groundmass of the peralkaline trachyphonolites. Removal of feldspar-bearing assemblages (with calcic-to-sodic plagioclase in shoshonites and latites, sodic sanidine and anorthoclase in trachytes and trachyphonolites) is established throughout the compositional range, and is accompanied by interaction between variably evolved magmas (with their differing phenocryst assemblage), mostly in mafic and intermediate compositions. This led to enrichment in Mn, alkalis, Zr, Nb, REE, Rb, Th, U, Cl and F, and depletion in Mg, Fe, V, Ca, Ba, Sr and Eu in the most evolved magmas. The Ischian rocks have a tendency to sodic affinity and by peculiar mineral compositions and compositional trends, which do not indicate extremely oxidizing conditions. The Ischian rocks thus differ from the Phlegrean Fields analogues and the ultrapotassic, more silica undersaturated rocks of Somma–Vesuvius. Overall, variations in the chemical compositions of the rocks and their trends imply unrelated feeding systems and thus are inconsistent with the hypothesis of a common magma reservoir beneath the main volcanic areas of the Campanian Plain.

International audience; Samples of table and cooking ware, dating back to the Byzantine period of the ancient Greek colony of Cuma, were analysed by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, in order to reconstruct the main technological properties of these manufactures. The comparison of minero-petrographical data from these samples with those of some kiln wastes allowed us to hypothesize a local manufacture for most of the investigated specimens and to confirm the relative reference groups. A restricted number of samples did not link with the main groups, indicating a regional (or maybe extra-regional) production, in agreement with the widespread circulation of this high-medieval ceramic production in southern Italy.

The Gran Potenza clay and the Pomici di Avellino pyroclastics, respectively the clay sediments and temper of the typical ceramic manufacture in Benevento area (Italy). were mixed in different proportion and fired at 850 degrees, 900 degrees and 950 degrees C. These experimental replicas were compared with historical ceramic products of Benevento. The similarities and/or differences between archaeological materials and replicas (in terms of amount of temper, firing temperature, pore system, etc.) have been discussed. The whole data confirm the wide utilization of the local available clayey raw material and the Pomici di Avellino, and give a new contribution on the petrophysical modifications of volcanic-rich ceramic pastes that occur in the firing temperature range comprised between 850 degrees and 950 degrees C. Some peculiar features in the historical manufacturing are also reported.