Production Regions and Technology of Pottery at Punta di Zambrone: NAA and Petrography in a Combined Approach

We analysed 37 samples of pottery and daub fragments from Punta di Zambrone (province of Vibo Valentia) by combining thin-section petrography and Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) geochemistry. The aim is to identify possible production areas for some wheelmade vessels of Aegean type and better define raw materials and paste recipes for the local handmade impasto ware. By integrating petrographic and NAA results, one reliable group emerged, which refers to the local specialised production of Recent Bronze Age (RBA) open shapes. A filter test allowing larger elemental variances was applied on NAA data in order to identify further groups (named special groups) to be specifically compared with petrographic fabrics. The special NAA group Ul41 and petro group 3, including local reference materials such as daub fragments, correlate well. Furthermore, the concentration pattern of Ul41 is close to that of local clay deposits (Cava Monaca and Fiumara Jona). The RBA closed shapes show a lower correspondence between geochemical and petrographic results, presumably attributable to less standardised production processes.