Ricerc@Sapienza

Manganese oxides are important geomaterials, used in a large number of applications. For instance, as pigments in art works or in the treatment and removal of heavy metals from drinking water. Particularly, ramsdellite [Mn4+O2] and groutellite [(Mn0.54+,Mn0.53+)O1.5(OH)0.5], because of their 2 × 1 frameworks that enable proton diffusion, are very important cathode materials. Manganese oxides commonly occur as crypto-crystalline and very fine mixtures of different Mn-phases, iron oxides, silicates and carbonates. Thus, proper characterization can be a difficult task using XRPD.

This study is focused on the Red Slip Ware from the archaeological site of Sulky (Sardinia, Italy), dated back to the end of 9th to the early 8th centuries B.C. Optical Microscopy (OM), X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with an EDS system (SEM-EDS) were used to characterize both the body and the external Red Slip decoration.

The present paper reports the results of a mineralogical and petrographic study focused on the archaeometric characterization of Early Bronze Age pottery from the archaeological site of Khirbet al-Batrawy (Jordan), dated between 3000 and 2000 BC. Optical microscopy (OM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analyses are used to define the nature of the raw material, the technology of the ceramic production and their developing during the centuries.

This study is focused on the Phoenician Red Slip Ware, a cultural and chronological marker, unearthed in the archaeological site of Motya. The vessels are dated back from the 8th to early 5th century B.C. The ceramics were investigated using Optical Microscopy (OM), X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Electron Microprobe Analysis (EMPA).