PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF MAGNETIC AND XRF METHODS OF HELLENISTIC AMPHORAE: CASE STUDY

Abstract

A set of fragments of 5 different archaeological vessels (Hellenistic period amphorae handles found in the

same context) has been examined and compared with the modern sample (made from clay taken from the

same stratigraphy). The research aims and tasks have been the following: a) a search for a criterion of simi

larity or difference in archaeological ceramics from the point of view of chemical composition or physical

properties; b) a trying of development of a technique for less- or non-destructive rapid analysis of archaeo

logical ceramics. During the analysis of the obtained results data, we did not find any unambiguous signs

could separate the set on groups. The obtained data analysis has shown that all the amphorae fragments set

and tempered clay are from the same clay source. During the experiment the research task was changed to

confirmation of the homogeneity of material and production technology for the set. The combination of the

four (4) methods was used: kappametry, magnetic hysteresis measurement, XRF and MAS-NMR.