PROVENANCE OF VERNICE NERA AND CERAMICA GRIGIA FROM AQUILEIA

Gerwulf Schneider, Malgorzata Daszkiewicz and Franca Maselli Scotti

For a long time the questions of which percentage of vernice nera was locally produced in Aquileia and where the imports came from has been much discussed (Maselli Scotti 1984 and 1991). To support a archaeological hypotheses a series of 46 samples of vernice nera from Aquileia, mainly deriving from the recent excavations at essiccatorio norte, were analyzed by WD-XRF for major and trace element compositions. The data were compared to the analyses of 12 samples of ceramica grigia found in Aquileia, to a series of ceramics of supposed local origin in Aquileia and to geological clay samples (the results on the local material will be presented in a poster). Analysis of vernice nera from several other sites in north Italy can also be compared (Altino, Brescia, Modena, Bologna, Rimini, and published data from other laboratories). MGR-analysis (see poster by Daszkiewicz et al.) and thin-section petrography were performed on some of the samples to check the results of multivariate cluster analysis of the chemical data. From the data it is obvious that, besides various groups of imported vernice nera, one group was made within the area. Most of the analyzed samples of ceramica grigia were very probably locally made. The provenience of some the imported vernice nera could be determined based upon the available data.

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