Late Roman 1 amphora types produced at Elaiussa Sebaste.

Abstract

The Elaiussa Sebaste research project (Ayash, Turkey), carried out by University of Rome "La Sapienza" Archaeological Mission, and directed by Professor Eugenia Equini Schneider, started in 1995 and continues today. The ancient city of Elaiussa located on the south-eastern coast of Asia Minor as a Late Roman 1 amphorae and coarse wares production centre. The aim of this study was to get a basis for the mineralogical-petrographic and chemical grouping of Late Roman 1 amphorae and coarse wares found in Elaiussa. On the basis of archaeological classification, which describes different classes of use and their possible provenance with the following mineralogical and petrographic studies it is possible to partly confirm archaelogical data. The study of thin sections of ceramic samples shows hiatal and serial distribution of grain sizes and it is a good means to get geological information on the possible regions of manufacture. It is evident that the large fragments in a hiatal distribution pattern were not present in the clay from the beginning, but were added to it during the processing phase. Chemical compositions of ceramics is obtained by XRF analysis, using all major chemical elements and some minor elements (Zr, Zn, Ni, Ba, Cr), it is possible to generate groups of different provenance which often do not agree with geological setting of the area. The high Mg, Cr and Ni contents give us an indication on the geochimical origin of the clays. These elements are characteristics of ultrabasic rock usually connecred with ophiolites in agreement with the rock inclusions find from the study of thin sections.