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‘Gnathia’ pottery samples, dating back to the mid-fourth and third century BC, from the archaeological site of Egnazia (Fasano, Brindisi, Italy) have been characterised from the physical-chemical, mineralogical and morphological points of view. Optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses have been carried out on the ceramic body, black gloss, white, yellow and red over-paintings of fragments, with the aim of outlining technological features and defining the nature of coatings and decorations. Analytical results confirm from both a technological and morphological/decorative point of view the close relationship between ‘Gnathia’ pottery and red figured pottery, particularly with the Apulian red figured from which it takes its inspiration. At the same time the experimental results highlight shared characteristics and differences with both Attic and Apulian red figured productions. The biggest difference is in the utilisation of the ‘ingobbio rosso’ layer that covers the ceramic body. This does not seem to be based on aesthetic grounds, as in the case of Apulian red figured pottery, but on application of acquired production processes, since ‘Gnathia’ pottery was made in the same workshops as red figured pottery. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Late Apulian red figured pottery [1] from Egnatia (Fasano, Brindisi, Italy) was studied in order to widen the view on this ceramic class in Southern Italy. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) provided the samples elemental composition that allowed to make provenance hypotheses. Optical Microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS), supplied information about the minero-petrographic features of the objects to better understand their production technology. The set of results highlighted the contemporary presence in the Apulian land in the late 4th century BC of both local and imported finds and showed the existence of two different kinds of local production, the “classic” Attic and a peculiar one, characterized by the application of an engobe layer before the black gloss. Our previous studies resulted in the discovery that an engobe layer, with similar chemical and minero-petrographic characteristics, was present in finds from another site in central Apulia (Monte Sannace). So the discovery of red engobe on fragments from Egnatia, proves that its use was not an isolated occurrence, but was quite common in the production of red figured in Apulia during the Late period, appearing as a peculiar technological mark of Apulian potters.

Samples of Gnathia pottery from Egnazia, one of the most important archaeological sites in Southern Italy (Cassano et al.2007), were examined with different complementary techniques. The conventional name of “Gnathia” pottery refers to the black gloss ware, typical of Hellenistic Age Apulian production, which had a wide circulation throughout the Mediterranean basin (Webster 1968; Green 2001). Over-painted decorations (usually in white, yellow and red), incisions and ribbings characterise this ceramic class. Questions concerning the technological and functional relationships of Gnathia with red-figured pottery, the typological and chronological classification of samples, and the location of workshops are still unsolved. This lack of data is due to the methodology followed to date in studies and classifications of this type of pottery, based almost exclusively on stylistic criteria used to define the most valuable figured pottery.