Frattesina – fase tre: Archeologia ed Archeometria della produzione ceramica

The important settlement 01 Frattesina di Fratta Polesine (Rovigo) has been investigated through systematic surveys and stratigraphic excavations during the period 1966-1989. According to Ihe excavalion data and the typological study 01 the cerarnics, we can reliably assume that the settlement was inhabited since the end 01 Late Sronze Age (phase 1) till the beginning 01 lron Age (phase 3). During this last phase the local ceramic production is characterized by the use 01 different ceramic pastes, as identili ed by macroscopic visual estimation. The need to substantiate the empyrical classilication on physico-chemical ground has prompted an archaeometric study by optical microscopy (OM) observation 01 thin sections, and by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis. The pastes 01 archaeological relevance have been divided into 5 classes (A-F), recognized through the typological analysis 01 46 pottery sherds, 4 pieces 01 "concetti", and 1 dislinct wheel-made sherd. Ali the investigated pottery samples were made by mixing local carbonatic clays with different tempers, mostly grog, but also sand-shells mixtures (paste S), vegetables and straw, and in one case, a very peculiar sand 01 metamorphic origin (paste C). Grog is present in pastes having different grain-size, the size 01 the temper inclusions being related to Ihe thickness 01 Ihe pot walls. The liring was carried out in variable atmosphere conditions and/or differenl times, the colour 01 the sherds being relaled lo the linal degree 01 oxidation 01 the paste. The maximum temperature 01 firing was in the range 60Q-8QQoC. There seems to be a correlation between paste type and pot shape: Paste E is the mosl diffused and it was used for several pot types, paste A is associated to open shaped pots like bowls or line pots, paste S is associated to dolia and 100m weights ("taralli"), paste C is associated to open and closed shaped pots, and paste F is conlined to andiron ("tronchi di piramide") 01 uncertain use. The wbeel-made sherd has different mineralogy and is assumed lo be imported. The archaeometric and ethnographic results contribute to piace the ceramic production 01 Fraltesina at a level between the household and the workshop industries. Significant archaeological similitudes are present with other Sronze Age settle- ; ments 01 the Po Valley, specilically Ihose in the Valli Grandi Veronesi and in the Modena areas.