Bronze Age pottery from the Aeolian Islands: definition of Temper Compositional Reference Units by an integrated mineralogical and microchemical approach

Researchers have identified four distinct Temper Compositional Reference Units (TCRUs) for Bronze Age pottery from the Aeolian Islands, enabling precise provenance discrimination. By analyzing a statistically significant sample of 186 volcanic temper-bearing potteries, the study integrated mineralogical and microchemical approaches, including multivariate analysis, Electron Microprobe, and Laser Ablation—Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Two TCRUs (AI and AX) were distinctly characterized by unique trace element enrichment and petrographic composition, primarily associated with Lipari and Stromboli, respectively. The other two units (AIV and AVIII), linked to Filicudi and Stromboli, exhibited distinct petrographic features but overlapping geochemical profiles. This method enhances understanding of pottery dispersion during the Capo Graziano culture (2300–1430 BC) and provides a robust framework for archaeological provenance studies.

Brunelli, D., Levi, S. T., Fragnoli, P., Renzulli, A., Santi, P., Paganelli, E., & Martinelli, M. C. (2013). Bronze Age pottery from the Aeolian Islands: definition of Temper Compositional Reference Units by an integrated mineralogical and microchemical approach. Applied Physics A, 113(4), 855–863. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-013-7775-3