In this paper we present the preliminary results of the 2019 field survey conducted in the framework of the project “Beyond the border. Study and enhancement of the highlands between Veneto and... Show moreIn this paper we present the preliminary results of the 2019 field survey conducted in the framework of the project “Beyond the border. Study and enhancement of the highlands between Veneto and Trentino”. The aim of this overarching project, which applies a multidisciplinary approach, is threefold: to detect in this mountain landscape the main activity areas and reconstruct possible connections between them; to analyse the long-term relationships between Trentino and Prealpine Veneto from prehistory to the present day; and to study the evolving function of this frontier area during periods of conflict/interaction. Several methods were employed to shed light on the above-mentioned research aims: field-walking survey, analysis of aerial photos, ethnographic and archival research, GIS-based landscape analysis and predictive modelling, and LiDAR data for feature detection in wooded areas. The combined use of all these approaches allowed us to identify long-term exploitation activities, which are documented also by both the ethnographic and archaeological data. The major periods of conflict in these areas are also highlighted in the archaeological record. The 2019-survey campaign opens up new research directions such as the future excavation of Bronze Age occupation zones; network and connectivity analysis between Prealpine Veneto and Trentino; hillforts and their interaction with the highlands. Show less
This paper diacusses the Avellino Event Project and the Minor Centres project. Both projects add to the long term reconstruction of the human landscape in the plain south of Sezze (Agro Pontino,... Show moreThis paper diacusses the Avellino Event Project and the Minor Centres project. Both projects add to the long term reconstruction of the human landscape in the plain south of Sezze (Agro Pontino, Lazio). Show less
This study presents the results of chemical analyses on a specific type of decorated ceramics, the so-called maiolica compendiario, which was produced and traded throughout many areas of Europe... Show moreThis study presents the results of chemical analyses on a specific type of decorated ceramics, the so-called maiolica compendiario, which was produced and traded throughout many areas of Europe between ca. AD 1550 and 1650. Due to the enormous success of the compendiario, and the similarity in the ceramic style amongst different European production centers, faience decorated in compendiario faces many attribution problems (Jaspers 2009; 2012b). The Dutch soil revealed a large amount and wide range of maiolica decorated in compendiario. Dozens of them have been positively linked to French production (e.g. Nevers and Rouen), the area of central Italy (e.g.. the cities of Faenza and Deruta), and Southern Italy (e.g. Castelli d’Abruzzo and/or Naples/Salerno). However, there is a broad but unique category of compendiario that belongs to one specific homogeneous stylistic group, which has several authentication problems. In previous literature, it was often incorrectly attributed to a provenance in Faenza, the Italian city that invented the style, or to Haarlem/Delft, because Dutch borders contained the most archaeological examples of this compendiario type. Yet, Nina Jaspers claimed, based on stylistic similarities with other Ligurian productions , that this particular group was produced in Liguria (Albisola and Savona); on the northwestern Italian coast (Jaspers 2007a; 2007b; 2007c; 2009; 2012a, 2012b; 2013). In this research, we tested Jaspers’ hypothesis through chemical analysis with a portable-XRF (pXRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) on the maiolica paste composition. A large dataset of 200 faience samples from archaeological excavations in Amsterdam, Enkhuizen, Hoorn and ceramic reference material from Italy (Liguria, Venice, Faenza, Naples), France (Nevers) and Portugal were analysed. The results of the analysis and the comparison of following elemental ratios: Fe/Sr, Zr/Ti for pXRF and La/Sc; Th/Co; La/Cr; Th/Sc; La/Lu; Y/Tb; V/Sc for ICP-MS, provide solid evidence to connect the unique group of compendiario retrieved from Dutch soil to the Ligurian reference materials. Hence, through the interpretation of the trace and rare earth elements values, we confirmed Jaspers’ hypothesis that the majority of imported compendiario in the Netherlands belongs to Ligurian production, rejecting the previous attributions to a production provenance in Faenza, Haarlem or Delft. Moreover, the results from this analysis demonstrated that faience during the 16th and 17th centuries can be analysed and distinguished by the composition of matrix components either with pXRF, being non-invasive, and with micro-destructive analysis with ICP-MS. This research called for a reconsideration of the European production of compendiario, confuting the previous false attributions, and quantitatively places Ligurian production as one of the most prominent in Europe. Show less
