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The present work reports the results of the typological, technological and archaeometric study undertaken on Early Bronze Age ceramic fragments from the site of Tell el-Far‘ah North (West Bank), which macroscopic analysis has recognized as representative of ‘metallic ware’. The fragments belong to a distinctive class of medium-sized carinated bowls dating to the south Levantine EB II/ESL 4. Petrographic (OM), mineralogical (XRPD) and chemical (SEM-EDS) analyses have yielded the identification of a ‘metallic ware’ industry, which used a low calcareous clay where quartz is dominant, along with feldspars, fragments of sedimentary and siliceous rocks, nodules of iron oxides, and was fired at a temperature in a range between 800–900 °C. Petrographic and mineralogical data have made it possible to discuss the nature of raw materials and to investigate aspects of the production technology. Finally, through a comparison with other ceramics from the site, the fragments have been examined against the background of the local pottery tradition. The metallic ware bowls from Tell el-Far‘ah North have proved to be representative of a distinctive specialized ceramic industry of the central hill country, linked to the so-called ‘Aphek family’ bowls.

Cave 1Q was visited and looted on several occasions between 1947 and late 1948, before official excavations took place in 1949. This caused an upheaval of the archaeological context and a dispersion of the materials from the cave. As a result, we must ascertain the findspot and the subsequent history of acquisition of the archaeological artefacts assigned to the cave: those not coming from official excavations, but also some recorded in the excavation reports, which often omit information about the excavation process, how the archaeological materials were retrieved, and where they were found. In some cases, archival documentation allows us to recover this information and recompose the archaeological context of the cave in a more consistent way. Lamps Q43 and Q44, assigned to Cave 1Q, and belonging to a distinctive type barely attested outside Qumran, represent an interesting case study in this respect; especially if we consider that they have played a key role in the debate on the chronology of the scroll deposit inside the cave. The present work allows us to put forward some methodological considerations, to highlight some shortcomings in previous studies, and to underline the importance of a holistic approach to the investigation of the material context of the Qumran caves.

Micro-Raman (?-Raman) spectroscopy has been used, as a preliminary and non-destructive technique, in order to investigate the mineralogical composition and to define the maximum firing temperature and redox state of the firing atmosphere of ancient ceramic materials. The studied ceramics come from the archaeological site of Khirbet al-Batrawy (north-central Jordan), dating back to the Early Bronze Age (3000?2000 B.C.). The results show that the ceramic body is composed mainly by quartz and calcite, and minor amount of feldspars and hematite. In addition, apatite and zircon, important markers to identify the provenance of raw materials, have been detected. Furthermore, the occurrence of gypsum has been related to both rehydration of anhydrite and burial alteration processes. Micro-Raman spectroscopy was helpful to investigate the nature of the pigments of these ceramics: the red colour was obtained by hematite, the dark pigment by amorphous carbon. Mineral assemblage allowed estimating the maximum firing temperature of these pottery vessels between 850 and 950 °C. The comparison of the results of ?-Raman spectroscopy and of X-ray diffraction analysis suggests that ?-Raman spectroscopy could have a key role in the study of ceramic materials, especially the characterization of archaeological ceramic samples for which manipulation and/or consumption are not allowed.

A multi-analytical approach has been applied to characterize Khirbet Kerak Ware from the archaeological site of Khirbet al-Batrawy (Jordan), a highly distinctive pottery production of Early Bronze III Levant. Sherds of Khirbet Kerak Ware vessels, dating back to 2750–2500 B.C., show peculiar shapes and a highly polished red/black coating, alien to other Levantine ceramic traditions. Micro-Raman, infrared spectroscopic and petrographic data have been obtained with the aim of defining the fabric, tracing the origin of the raw material used in the manufacturing process and exploring the technological aspects. The results on Khirbet Kerak Ware are then compared with those of ceramics of the same period found at that site in order to highlight possible differences or similarities in the manufacturing process. All these pottery productions reveal similar mineralogical composition, compatible with a local sourcing of the raw materials; moreover, the identification of a specific mineral assemblage allows to estimate a firing temperature ranging from 850 °C to 900 °C. In spite of the marked differences observed between macroscopic appearances of Khirbet Kerak Ware and those of other coeval and local pottery productions, the results are indicative of overall local manufacturing.

Abstract: Renewable vegetable fuels are spreading rapidly throughout Europe and North America. Because biodiesel fuel has now acquired an important market share, it is necessary to thoroughly examine aspects of its use not previously considered either at the research stage or when overhauling the production technology. One of these aspects is its medium-term storage. The object of the present work is to study the behavior of biodiesel under controlled storage conditions that simulate those found in reality. Samples of biodiesel were kept in the dark, at two different temperatures (20C and 40C), in both glass and iron containers. They were controlled by the parameters that indicate their state of oxidation. Another group of samples was stored in glass and kept under the conditions described above in the presence of increasing quantities of water to determine its influence on the formation of acidity.

Renewable vegetable fuels are spreading rapidly throughout Europe and North America. Because biodiesel fuel has now acquired an important market share, it is necessary to thoroughly examine aspects of its use not previously considered either at the research stage or when overhauling the production technology. One of these aspects is its medium-term storage. The object of the present work is to study the behavior of biodiesel under controlled storage conditions that simulate those found in reality. Samples of biodiesel were kept in the dark, at two different temperatures (20°C and 40°C), in both glass and iron containers. They were controlled by the parameters that indicate their state of oxidation. Another group of samples was stored in glass and kept under the conditions described above in the presence of increasing quantities of water to determine its influence on the formation of acidity.