Caratterizzazione archeometrica preliminare di materiali ceramici provenienti dal territorio di Mondragone (Caserta).

This paper presents the results of a preliminary archaeometric study on 14 potsherds collected in three sites of Mondragone territory (Caserta, Southern Italy), where two surface surveys campaign were carried out in 2007 and 2008. More than 700 fragments of artifacts (flint, pottery, daub and bricks) were found in the 18 sites identified in the studied area, being the potsherds the most represented archaeological materials. Petrographic analysis under optical microscopy and mineralogical characterization by X-ray powder diffraction were carried out in order to identify homogenous groups, to define the provenance of the raw materials and possible importation cases by comparison with the natural resources available in the region, as well as to constrain the production technology, with particular reference to the paste preparation and the firing process. Five main petrographic groups were defined, the features of which showed strong compatibility with clayey and silty-clayey alluvial deposits of Mondragone territory, suggesting a local production of the studied pottery. Mineral assemblages constrained the firing temperature in the interval 750-950°C, at variable redox conditions defined on the basis of the paste colour, suggesting the use of pit firing or kilns with firing chamber directly in contact with the firebox. The comparison with other productions of the area reveals differences in terms of superficial treatments with respect to more recent pottery and strong technological analogies with other contexts in the Campania region, even attributed to different prehistoric and historic periods.