LEVANTINE CERAMICS PROJECT: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION DATA

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LEVANTINE CERAMICS PROJECT: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION DATA

The LCP is a collaborative venture of archaeologists working on Levantine ceramics of all eras—from the Neolithic era (c. 5500 B.C.E.) through the Ottoman period (c. 1920). The LCP website is a digital resource where anybody can submit and find information about wares, shapes, specific vessels, scientific analyses, kiln sites, and chronology. Our goal is to build a robust digital tool that will make available an enormous data set, link scholars, and foster research throughout this vital region.

Data on the chemical composition of pottery is an important tool in analysis of provenance and the history of pottery technology. Chemical data can be obtained by a variety of techniques, including Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA), Inductively-Coupled Plasma Spectrography (ICP), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Wet Chemistry, and others. The results generally take the form of a table, giving the concentrations by mass (weight) of each measured element for each pottery or clay sample. The pottery sampled for chemical analysis may, or may not, be the same as pottery sampled for petrographic analysis.

This web-site hosts files containing chemical composition data for Levantine pottery, and links to externally hosted files containing such information. The format of these files varies: some of the more popular formats include Microsoft® Excel® spreadsheets, fixed-format tables, comma-separated tables, and scanned images. Most, but not all, of these are machine-readable.

External Databases

This is a partial bibliography of the principal published chemical compositional data sets for the Levant. Links are included to databases and to publications that contain databases that are available on-line. Some of the on-line publications can only be accessed from member libraries, require a subscription, or require payment of a fee. The datasets incorporated in these publications are not necessarily machine readable, even when the publication is available on-line. Use of this data may be subject to conditions specified in the relevant publication.

Publications that present the results of chemical compositional data analysis, but do not include data sets, are not included in this list, but some may be found here.

General Levantine

McGovern, Patrick E.(2000). The Foreign Relations of the “Hyksos”: A neutron activation study of Middle Bronze Age pottery from the Eastern Mediterranean. “BAR International Series 888”. Oxford: Archaeopress. (MURR and BNL INAA data at MURR)

Cyprus

Cyprus (LBNL INAA data on tDAR)

Sinda, Cyprus (Bonn INAA data)

Gabrieli,R.S.; Waksman, S. Yona; Shapiro, A.; Pecci, A (2017). Cypriot and Levantine cooking wares in Frankish Cyprus, in J.A.C. Vroom, S.Y. Waksman, R.M.R. van Oosten (éds.), Medieval MasterChef. An Archaeological and Historical Perspective on Eastern Cuisine and Western Foodways, Brepols, 119-143, 376-377

Knapp, Bernard; and Cherry, John F.(1994). Provenience Studies and Bronze Age Cyprus: Production, Exchange and Politico-Economic Change. “Monographs in World Archaeology”. Madison, Wisconsin: Prehistory Press.

Vaughan, Sarah J. (1987). “A fabric analysis of Late Cypriot Base Ring Ware : studies in ceramic technology, petrology, geochemistry and mineralogy”. PhD Dissertation, University College, London.

Waksman, S. Yona (2014), Archaeometric approaches to ceramics production and imports in Medieval Cyprus, in D. Papanikola-Bakirtzi, N. Coureas (eds.), Cypriot Medieval Ceramics: Reconsiderations and New Perspectives, Nicosie, 257-277 (2014).

Waksman, S. Yona ; François, V (2004-2005). Vers une redéfinition typologique et analytique des céramiques byzantines du type Zeuxippus Ware, BCH, 128-129.2.1, 629-724.

Waksman, S. Yona; von Wartburg, M.-L. (2006). “Fine-Sgraffito Ware”, “Aegean Ware”, and other wares: new evidence for a major production of Byzantine ceramics, Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, 369-388.

Egypt

Egypt (LBNL INAA data on tDAR)

Waksman, S. Yona; Capelli, C; Cabella, R. (2017). Etudes en laboratoire de céramiques islamiques du Caire: l’apport des fouilles récentes, in R.-P. Gayraud, L. Vallauri, Fouilles d’Istabl `Antar (Fustat), Céramiques d’ensembles des IXe et Xe siècles, IFAO, Le Caire, 383-414.

Iraq

Iraq (LBNL INAA data on tDAR)

Israel and the Palestinian Territories

General

Israel and the Palestinian Territories (LBNL INAA data on tDAR)

Mommsen, H.; Perlman, I.; and Yellin, Y. (1984). “The Provenience of the LMLK Jars.” IEJ 34: 89-113. (HU INAA data at Bonn)

Brooks, D.; Bieber, A. M.; Harbottle, Garmen; and Sayre, Edward V. (1974). “Biblical Studies through Activation Analysis of Ancient Pottery”. Archaeological Chemistry. C. Beck (ed.)Advances in Chemistry Washington, DC: American Chemical Society: 48-80.

Central Jordan Valley (Beth Shean and Vicinity)

Maeir, Aren M. (2007). “The Middle Bronze Age II Pottery”. Excavations at Tel Beth-Shean 1989-1996, Volume II. A. Mazar and R. A. Mullins (eds.),”Excavations at Tel Beth-Shean 1989-1996 II” Jerusalem: The Israel Exploration Society: 242-389. (Data Files on accompanying CD-ROM).

Jezreel Valley

Hancock, Ronald G. V.; and Harrison, Timothy P. “Chapter Five: Elemental Analysis of the Stratum VI Pottery”. Megiddo 3: Final Report on the Stratum VI Excavations. T. P. Harrison (ed.) Chicago, Illinois: Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.

Galilee

Slane, Kathleen Warren (1997). “Appendix I. Results of Neutron Activation Analysis at MURR”. Tell Anafa, II, Part I. Journal of Roman Archaeology Supplement X, Vol. II(i). A. M. Berlin, K. W. Slane and S. C. Herbert (eds.),” 394-401 (INAA data at MURR).

Shoval, Shlomo; and Paz, Yitzhak (2015). “Analyzing the fired-clay ceramic of EBA Canaanite pottery using FT-IR spectroscopy and LA-ICP-MS.” Periodico di Mineralogia 84(1): 213-231.

Waksman, S. Yona; Bien, S.; Tréglia, J.-C.; Vallauri, L.; Bonifay, M.; Roumié, M. (2003). Some indications regarding eastern Mediterranean late Roman common wares found in southern France, Ceramics in the Society, Proceedings of the 6th European Meeting on Ancient Ceramics, Fribourg, 3-6 octobre 2001, Fribourg, 311-322.

Waksman, S. Yona; Reynolds, P.; Bien, S.; Tréglia, J.-C. (2005). A major production of Late Roman ‘Levantine’ and ‘Cypriot’ common wares, LRCW I, Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean: Archaeology and Archaeometry, BAR International Series 1340, 311-325.

Jerusalem

Yellin, Joseph (1996). “Chapter Two Appendix D: Chemical Charaterization of the City of David Figurines and Inferences About Their Origin”. Excavations at the City of David, 1978-1985: Directed by Yigal Shiloh. Volume IV. D. T. Ariel and A. de Groot (eds.),”Qedem: Monographs of the Institute of Archaeology 35″ Jerusalem: Hebrew University of Jerusalem: 90-95.

Negev

Gunneweg, Jan; and Mommsen, H. (1990). “Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis and the Origin of Some Cult Objects and Edomite Vessels from the Horvat Qitmit Shrine.” Archaeometry 32(1): 7-18.

Southern Jordan Valley & Dead Sea (Qumran, Jericho, Massada, and their Vicinity)

Balla, Marta 2005, Provenance Study of Qumran Pottery by Neutron Activation Analysis. PhD Dissertation, University of Budapest.

Gunneweg, Jan; and Balla, Márta (2003). “Neutron Activation Analysis: Scroll Jars and Common Ware”. Khirbet Qumrân et ʿAïn Feshka: Études d’anthropologie, de physique et de chimie (Studies of Anthropology, Physics, and Chemistry). J.-B. Humbert and J. Gunneweg (eds.),”Khirbet Qumrân et ʿAïn Feshka II” Fribourg: Academic Press: 3-54.

Gunneweg, Jan; and Balla, Márta (2010). “Was the Qumran settlement a mere pottery production center? What Instrumental Neutron Activation Revealed”. Holistic Qumran. J. Gunneweg, A. Adriaens and J. Dik (eds.),”Studies on the Texts of the Desert of Judah 87″ Leiden: Brill: 39-62.

Michniewicz, Jacek; and Krzysko, Miroslaw (2003). “The Provenance of Scroll Jars in the Light of Archaeometric Investigations”. Khirbet Qumrân et ʿAïn Feshka: Études d’anthropologie, de physique et de chimie (Studies of Anthropology, Physics, and Chemistry). J.-B. Humbert and J. Gunneweg (eds.),”Khirbet Qumrân et ʿAïn Feshka II” Fribourg: Academic Press: 59-100.

Michniewicz, Jacek(2009). Qumran and Jericho Pottery: A Petrographic and Chemical Provenance Study. “Uniwersytet Im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, Seria Geologia nr. 20”. Poznań.

Yellin, Joseph (1994). “Origin of the lamps from Masada”. Masada IV. The Yigael Yadin excavations 1963-1965. Final Reports. J. Aviram, G. Foerster and E. Netzer (eds.),” Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society.

Jordan

Jordan (LBNL INAA data on tDAR)

Bedal, L. (1998). “Neutron Activation Analysis of Pottery”. Petra Great Temple, Volume I: Brown University Excavations, 1993-1997. M. S. Joukowsky (ed.): 346-347. (MURR INAA data)

Newton, G. W. A.; and Prag, Kay (1995). “Neutron Activation Analysis of Clay and Late Third Millenium Pottery from Iktanu, Jericho, and Jerusalem: First Results”. Studies in the History and Archaeology of Jordan, Volume V. (Manchester INAA data at MURR(a)) (Manchester INAA data at MURR(b))

McGovern, Patrick E.(1986). The Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages of Central Transjordan: The Baq’ah Valley Project, 1977-1981. “University Museum Monograph 65”. Pennsylvania: The University Museum, University of Pennsylvania.

McGovern, Patrick E. (n.d.), “A Neutron Activation Analysis Study Of Bronze Age-Mamluk Period Pottery From Tell Nimrin, Jordan”

Knapp, Bernard; Duerden, P.; Wright, R. V. S.; and Grave, Peter (1988). “Ceramic Production and Social Change: Archaeometric Analysis of Bronze Age Pottery from Jordan.” Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology 1/2: 57-113.

Zimmerman, Michael Seth (2007). The Hellenistic and Roman Pottery of Field I (The Village) at ʿIraq al-Amir, Jordan: A Typological Study.Doctoral Dissertation. Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World. Providence, Rhode Island: Brown University. Chapter VIII: Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramic Samples: Results and Implications, Pp. 323-350. (MURR INAA Data; contact MURR Archaeometry Laboratory for access).

Glascock, Michael D.; and Neff, Hector (2012). “Chapter Six: Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis of Iron Age Pottery from Hisban”. Hesban 11: Ceramic Finds: Typological and Technological Studies of the Pottery Remains from Tell Hesban and Vicinity. J. Sauer and L. G. Herr (eds.),” Berrien Springs, Michigan: Andrews University Press: 767-776. (MURR INAA Data; contact MURR Archaeometry Laboratory for access).

Lebanon

Lebanon (LBNL INAA data on tDAR)

Lemaître, S.; Waksman, S. Yona.; Reynolds, P.; Roumié, M.; Nsouli, B (2005). A propos de l’origine levantine de plusieurs types d’amphores importées en Gaule à l’époque impériale, S.F.E.C.A.G., Actes du Congrès de Blois, 515-528.

Waksman, S. Yona (2002). Céramiques levantines de l’époque des Croisades : le cas des productions à pâte rouge des ateliers de Beyrouth, Revue d’Archéométrie, 26, 67-77.

Waksman, S. Yona; Roumié, M.; Lemaître, S.; Nsouli, B.; Reynolds, P. (2003) Une production d’amphores “carottes” à Beyrouth à l’époque romaine?, Revue d’Archéométrie, 27, 95-102.

Waksman, S. Yona (2011). Ceramics of the ‘Serçe Limanı type’ and Fatimid pottery production in Beirut, Levant 43.2, 201-212.

Lemaître, S.; Waksman, S. Yona; Arqué, M.-C.; Pellegrino, E.; Rocheron, C. ; Yener-Marksteiner, B. (2013). Identité régionale et spécificités locales en Lycie antique: l’apport des céramiques culinaires, Euploia. La Lycie et la Carie antiques (Ausonius Mémoires 34, Bordeaux), 189-212.

Sauer, R.; Waksman, S. Yona (2005). Laboratory investigations of selected medieval sherds from the Artemision in Ephesus, in F. Krinzinger (éd.), Spätantike und mittelalterliche Keramik aus Ephesos, Archäologische Forschungen, Band 13, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienne, 51-66.

Waksman, S. Yona (1995). Les céramiques byzantines des fouilles de Pergame. Caractérisation des productions locales et importées par analyse élémentaire par les méthodes PIXE et INAA et par pétrographie, Thèse de doctorat, Université Strasbourg I.

Waksman, S. Yona (2011). Ceramics of the ‘Serçe Limanı type’ and Fatimid pottery production in Beirut, Levant 43.2, 201-212.

Waksman,S. Yona (2014). Long-term pottery production and chemical reference groups: examples from Medieval Western Turkey, in H. Meyza (ed.), Late Hellenistic to Mediaeval Fine wares of the Aegean Coast of Anatolia. Their production, imitation and use, Varsovie, 107-125.

Waksman, S. Yona, in collaboration with M.-M. Carytsiotis (2015). Medieval ceramics from the Türbe excavations in Ephesos / Ayasuluk: an archaeometric viewpoint, in S. Ladstätter, Die Türbe im Artemision. Ein frühosmanischer Grabbau in Ayasuluk/Selçuk und sein kulturhistorisches Umfeld, Sonderschriften des Österreichischen Archäologischen Instituts 53, Vienne, 293-312.

Waksman, S. Yona; Bouquillon, A. ; Cantin, N. ; Katona, I. (2007). The first Byzantine “Glazed White Wares” in the early medieval technological context, in S.Y. Waksman (éd.), Archaeometric and Archaeological Approaches to Ceramics, BAR International Series S1691, 129-135.

Waksman, S. Yona; Burlot, J.; Böhlendorf-Arslan, B.; Vroom, J (2016), Moulded wares production in the Early Turkish/Beylik period in Western Anatolia: A case study from Ephesus and Miletus, JAS Reports, doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.11.015 .

Waksman, S. Yona; Erhan, N. ; Eskalen, S. (2009). Les ateliers de céramiques de Sirkeci (Istanbul). Résultats de la campagne 2008, Anatolia Antiqua XVII, 457-467.

Waksman, S. Yona; Erhan, N.; Eskalen, S. (2010). Caractérisation des céramiques produites dans les ateliers de Sirkeci (Istanbul). Résultats de la campagne 2009, Anatolia Antiqua XVIII, 329-337.

Waksman, S. Yona ; François, V (2004-2005). Vers une redéfinition typologique et analytique des céramiques byzantines du type Zeuxippus Ware, BCH, 128-129.2.1, 629-724.

Waksman, S. Yona; Girgin, Ç. (2008). Les vestiges de production de céramiques des fouilles de Sirkeci (Istanbul). Premiers éléments de caractérisation, Anatolia Antiqua XVI, 443-469.

Waksman, S. Yona; Lemaître, S. (2010). Céramiques culinaires de Lycie (Turquie) aux époques romaine et proto-byzantine: approches archéologiques et archéométriques, LRCW3, Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean: Archaeology and Archaeometry, BAR International Series 2185 (II), 781-790.

Waksman, S. Yona; Morozova, Y.; Zelenko, S.; Çolak, M. (2014) Archaeological and archaeometric investigations of the amphorae cargo of a late Roman shipwreck sunk near the Cape of Plaka (Crimea, Ukraine), LRCW4, Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean: Archaeology and Archaeometry, BAR International Series 2616 (I), 911-929.

This is a very partial bibliography of papers discussing the chemical composition of pottery from the Levant, but which do not include per-sample data sets. The principle per-sample data sets are listed here instead.

Israel and the Palestinian Territories

Galilee

Waksman, S. Yona; Stern, Edna J.; Segal, I; Porat, Naomi; Yellin, Joseph (2008), Some local and imported ceramics from Crusader Acre investigated by elemental and petrographic analysis, ‘Atiqot 59, 157-190.

Stern, Edna J.;, Waksman, S. Yona (2003). Pottery from recent excavations in Crusader Acre : typological and analytical study, Actes du VIIe Congrès International sur la Céramique Médiévale en Méditerranée, Thessalonique, 11-16 octobre 1999, Athènes, 167-180.

Lebanon

François, V.; Nicolaïdès, A.; Vallauri, L.; Waksman, Sylvie Y. (2003). Premiers éléments pour une caractérisation des productions de Beyrouth entre domination franque et mamelouke, Actes du VIIe Congrès International sur la Céramique Médiévale en Méditerranée, Thessalonique, 11-16 octobre 1999, Athènes, 325-340.

Roumié, M.;Atallah, C.; Nsouli, B.; Waksman, S. Yona. (2005). Application of PIXE funny filter for cluster analysis of Byzantine amphorae from Beirut, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B 227, 584-590.

Roumié, M.; Waksman, S. Yona; Nsouli, B.; Reynolds, P.; Lemaître, S (2004). Use of PIXE Analysis Technique for the Study of Beirut Amphora Production at the Roman Period, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B 215, 196-202.

Stern, Edna J.; Waksman, S. Yona. (2003). Pottery from recent excavations in Crusader Acre : typological and analytical study, Actes du VIIe Congrès International sur la Céramique Médiévale en Méditerranée, Thessalonique, 11-16 octobre 1999, Athènes, 167-180 (2003).

Waksman, S. Yona (2014). Etudes de provenance de céramiques, in P. Dillmann et L. Bellot-Gurlet (dir.), Circulation et provenance des matériaux dans les sociétés anciennes, 195-215.

Waksman, S. Yona; Stern, Edna J.; Segal, I.; Porat, Naomi; Yellin, Joseph (2008). Some local and imported ceramics from Crusader Acre investigated by elemental and petrographic analysis, ‘Atiqot 59, 157-190.