MOT-A-2

object data

fabric description

archaeometry

petrography

sample no	M 179/10
fabric type	MOT-A-2
supposed site of production	Mozia / Motya
sample taken	May 2013, by Babette Bechtold, Soprintendenza BB.CC.AA Trapani
	Context Data
site of discovery	Himera Necropoli E, Royal
interpretation of context	funerary
registration code of context	RO1094
registration code of object	RO1094
chronology of context	409 BCE
	Object
ware	Transport Amphorae
object form	Amphora
object type	Ramón T-4.2.1.2/Toti 19
chronology of object	Punic-Middle Punic 409 ca. B.C.E.
fragmentation	rim
dimensions	diameter: 15cm (rim)
drawing
publication	Bechtold and Vassallo 2018, 115, cat. 59.

object data

fabric description

archaeometry

petrography

	Visual Examination of Fresh Break
visual examination of fresh break	colour red, core dark brown, texture coarse, numerous small to large inclusions: white, yellowish white, grey, red, voids
colour of fresh break	red 10 R 5/8, core weak red 10 R 4/2
texture of fresh break	granular
hardness	hard
	Observation Under the Binocular Stereoscope (all lengths in mm)
porosity	10%; void form: vughy, channel; void length: 0.04 (vughy), 0.06 (channel)-1.2 (vughy), 0.8 (channel)
inclusions	25%, length: <0.04-0.9
sorting	bimodal: poorly-sorted sand in well-sorted silt
	Inclusions (all lengths in mm)
black inclusions	singular, rounded, spherical, black, 0.04
calciumcarbonate	frequent, well rounded - rounded, very spherical - subspherical, elongate, yellowish white, white, 0.04-0.06
carbonate pseudomorphoses	very frequent, rounded - subrounded, very spherical - subspherical, subelongate, yellowish white, white, 0.04-0.9
mica	infrequent, spherical, elongate, angular, white, dark, <0.04-0.04
more inclusions2	singular, spherical - subspherical, pale red
quartz	very frequent, well rounded - rounded, angular - subangular, very spherical - subspherical, subelongate, grey, clear, white, 0.04-0.8
reddish inclusions	infrequent, well rounded - rounded, spherical - subspherical, elongate, reddish brown;reddish brown, 0.04-0.7

object data

fabric description

archaeometry

petrography

applied method for sample analysis	thin section, chemical analysis
analysis author	Giuseppe Montana
publication (of analysis)	Montana and Randazzo 2018, 70, tab. 4.

object data

fabric description

archaeometry

petrography

sample number	M 179/10
inventory number	Necropolis east, Royal Himera, RO 1094
name of author	Giuseppe Montana - Luciana Randazzo
institution of author	Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM) - University of Palermo
contact information of author	giuseppe.montana@unipa.it; luciana.randazzo@unipa.it
	Temper Grains
	Microstructure
areal distribution	not homogeneous
packing (% area)	very high (>30%)
size/granulometry (mm)	prevalent: very fine (0.04-0.1mm), coarse (0.5-2mm)
maximum grain size (mm)	1.0
sorting	scarce-serial
roundness	angular
	Composition
minerals	prevalent: Monocrystalline Quartz common: Polycrystalline Quartz sporadic: Orthoclase, Plagioclase, Calcite rare: Muscovite
rock fragments	common: Sedimentary (Limestone, Sandstone, Chert)
other compositional/textural features	common: Micritic Clots
quartz grains	angular
	Groundmass
	Texture
texture	moderately homogeneous patchy: sporadic
optical activity	slightly active
color (plane polarized light)	brownish
degree of sintering	partly sintered
	Porosity
voids/pores abundance (area)	medium (10-30%)
voids/pores size	prevalent: medium (0.1-1mm), large (>1mm)
voids/pores orientation	full
voids/pores shape	prevalent: channels
	Newly Formed Phases
newly formed phases	frequent: secondary calcite
	Clay Composition
clay composition	ca-rich
	Estimations from Microscopy/Interpretation
	Interpretation
firing temperature	low fired
refinement of raw clay	acceptable
refinement of temper/clasts	sieved natural sand
modelling technique/fabrication	use of wheel