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.

Analytical investigations using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), with Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (CP-MAS NMR), were carried out on white, yellow and red overpaintings on Apulian red-figured pottery fragments (4th century BC) from Altamura, Monte Sannace and Canosa – among the most relevant archaeological sites in ancient Peucetia – in order to outline technological features and define the nature of pigments. The results obtained allow us to highlight that Apulian objects have an external appearance which is very similar to Attic objects, but that they are nevertheless different, as they were made using locally available raw materials employing similar but not identical production technology. Perhaps familiarity, rather than real and proper continuity with the Attic pottery tradition, would explain the analytical results.

Apulian red figured pottery samples, dating back to the 5th and 4th centuries BC, from the archaeological site of Monte Sannace (Gioia del Colle, Bari, Italy) have been characterized from the physical–chemical, mineralogical and morphological points of view. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and atomic spectroscopy investigations have been carried out on the ceramic body, red decorated area and black gloss of the fragments, with the aim of outlining the technological features and of defining the nature of coatings and decorations. All 5th century fragments show the same features: fine texture of the ceramic body, red figures saved from the ceramic paste and black gloss painted directly on the ceramic body. The statistical treatment of compositional data of ceramic bodies excludes the local production of these objects. As regards the 4th century fragments, some show similar features to the 5th century ones; however others are characterized by the coarse texture of their ceramic body and an intermediate red layer of finer clay between the black gloss and the ceramic body. The analytical results make it possible to distinguish two different production technologies of red figured Apulian vases in Monte Sannace during the 4th century BC. Certain vases were produced using the “classic” Attic technology and others with a different technique, not previously known, which involved the application of a red engobe layer on the clay paste, before the black gloss painting.

Medieval glasses, including feet and rims of chalices, fragments of lamps and globular bottles, coming from the archaeological site of Siponto (Foggia, Italy), were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy for investigating and defining glass production technology in Apulia (Italy) in the Middle Ages, because of the poor understanding currently achieved on either compositional and technological features of medieval glass items. The examined finds, whether colourless or coloured blue, yellow-green, yellow, pink and red, revealed a typical silica–soda–lime-composition. The chemical analysis and the statistical treatment of data allowed to trace former, flux, modifier and, where it is present, the element responsible for colour, clarifying production technology issues. It has been possible to identify, moreover, objects obtained by recycling of cullets or finished items.

Seven fragments of atypical proto-majolica from the archaeological site of Siponto (Manfredonia, Foggia) were analysed by chemical and physical methods. All fragments have blue, brown and yellow painted decorations. Raman microscopy and Scanning Electron MicroscopyEnergy Dispersed Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) investigations identified the blue pigment to lapis lazuli. We previously identified this mineral in the blue coloration of the tin-lead glaze of proto-majolica finds at other Medieval sites in Apulia (Castel Fiorentino and Lucera). The discovery of the fragments from Siponto, in spite of their peculiar technological-decorative features, proves that the use of lapis lazuli as a ceramic pigment was not an isolated occurrence, but was quite common in the Middle Ages in the production of typologically heterogeneous ceramics in Southern Italy.To better define the scope of this use the composition of ceramic bodies was determined by Absorption Atomic Spectroscopy (AAS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The results were compared with those from Castel Fiorentino and Lucera by multivariate statistical treatment.To identify the technological features of these atypical proto-majolica fragments, investigations were also carried out on the ceramic bulk, covering and decorations using Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersed Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Optical Microscopy (OM). Below the tin-lead glaze, characterized by a low tin content, a layer of clay material enriched in Ca and P was found that had been applied to obtain a white background for the painted decorations. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Physical-chemical and morpho-mineralogical characterizations were performed on siliceous paste fragments from the archaeological site at Siponto (Foggia, Italy). Analytical investigations, by optical and scanning electron microscopy, powder x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence and atomic spectroscopy, were carried out on ceramic bodies, coatings and decorations in order to outline the technological features and define the nature of coatings and pigments. The fragments, characterized by a siliceous paste bulk, true stonepaste type, with alkali-lime or lead-alkali glaze, sometimes coloured by Cu and Mn compounds and decorated by incision, recall the ceramic production technologies typical of the Egyptian and the Syrian-Palestinian areas. The discovery of these fragments and the results of the investigations carried out prove the existence of extensive cultural exchanges between Apulia and the Middle East during the Middle Ages. This research provides extremely valuable input for the evaluation of the historical and artistic evolution of the relationship between different cultures, highlighting the relevance of scientific investigations also in archaeological fields other than provenance and dating. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This study concerns experimental results of a chemical-physical and mineralogical characterisation of some mortars, sampled by different masonries brought to light during excavations of the site of Monte Sannace. The aim of the research is to provide, through the characterisation of the mortar samples and the relative raw materials, useful information in order to define the stages of construction and the workers' technological knowledge during different historical periods. DTA/TG/DTG thermoanalytical investigations and X-ray diffractometry analyses can allow to define the nature of both the binder and aggregate materials. As regards a specific mortar with hydraulic behaviour such a study has allowed to recognise also the residual reactivity towards lime of the 'pozzolanic' sand, rich in volcanic ashes, used as aggregate in the original mortar. The thermoanalytical and X-ray diffractometric results together with the granulometric and chemical determinations allow to et information about the preparation techniques of binding materials of old masonries. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This paper examines the solidification/stabilisation treatment of two fly ash samples from a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) incineration plant using a lime-pozzolan binder. The two examined fly ash samples were characterised by a high chloride and sulphate content and by a significant concentration of heavy metals. The effective development of hydrate phases during hydration of hydraulic lime-fly ash mixtures allows us to stabilise numerous pollutants in hardened pastes. The release of pollutants into the leachants is limited and decreases with the curing period of the pastes.

A multivariate statistical method has been applied to apportion the atmospheric pollutant concentrations measured by automatic gas analyzers placed on a mobile laboratory for air quality monitoring in Taranto (Italy). In particular, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) followed by Absolute Principal Component Scores (APCS) technique was performed to identify the number of emission sources and their contribution to measured concentrations of CO, NOx, benzene toluene m+p-Xylene (BTX). This procedure singled out two different sources that explain about 85% of collected data variance.

In this study the process of hydration of fly ash, produced by a municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator, is examined in water and in a solution enriched with Ca(OH)2. The examined fly ash samples are characterized by a high content of alkaline chlorides and anhydrite and by remarkable amounts of heavy metals. Investigations using differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetry (DTA/TG) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD)show particular kinetics of the formation of the ettringite phase. The development of such a hydrated phase is much more intense in the presence of an excess of Ca(OH)2so as to consume the ‘free’ sulphate in the case of the more reactive fly ash. Experimental results from thermal analysis and X-ray diffractometry show the presence of different hydrated phases during the interaction between fly ash and aqueous solution. The analytical determinations, related to the aqueous solution, point out an interesting decrease in concentration of metals Pb, Zn and Cr(VI), relating to the middle period of the interaction.

Mixtures of cement and fly ash from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), with a high content of sulphate and chloride as well as a large concentration of heavy metals, were appropriately hydrated In the leaching test using deionised water, these mixtures showed an efficient interaction of the sulphate with the cementitious matrix. The behaviour of chloride release from pastes hardened has shown that an acceleration of the hydration process takes place. This acceleration was particularly intense for the mixtures with an intermediate fly ash content. The release of polluting elements as Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr(VI) from the solidified mixtures was correlated to the degree of stabilisation of the fly ash.