Ceramic traditions and technological choices revealed by early Iron Age vessels: the case of Vetulonia (southern Tuscany)

Figures & data

Figure 1. Map of Etruria showing the location of Vetulonia (the shoreline reflects the geo-morphological situation during the early 1st millennium BCE). Bottom image: grey = hypothetical settled area; white = early Iron Age cemeteries (Colle Baroncio encircled by the dashed line).

Figure 2. (A) Distribution of the Villanovan culture in the Italian peninsula (black areas). (B) Section of a typical early Iron Age grave of Vetulonia, based on the descriptions by Helbig (1885), Falchi and Pasqui (1885) and Falchi (1891). At Colle Baroncio, the burials were commonly marked by a vertical slab. (C) Photographs of pottery from the cemetery of Colle Baroncio. From top to bottom, the finds from which samples VT-CB 2, VT-CB 27, VT-CB 40 and VT-CB 3 were taken. (D) Examples of biconical urns and cover-bowls typical of Vetulonia. Clockwise from top left, the vessels used to take samples VT-CB 30, VT-CB 39, VT-CB 14 and VT-CB 18.

Figure 3. Geological map showing the main units in the territory around Vetulonia (numbers) and the location of the geological samples analysed in this study (letters). Formation 1: sands, pebbles and muds (alluvial, aeolian, lacustrine, palustrine, lagoonal, shore deposits) (Quaternary). Formation 3: conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones, clays and limestones of fluvio-lacustrine environment (Ruscinian-Villafranchian). Formation 27: shales, limestones and siltstones (Paleocene-Eocene). Formation 31: internal sandstone flysch: sandstones, siltstones with olistostromes (Chattian-Aquitanian). The colours used for all units refer to the official geological map of Tuscany (Carmignani et al. 2004). The dotted grey area marks the wetland of Diaccia Botrona, and the asterisk marks the formation with flint nodules south of Punta Ala. For the letters marking the geological samples collected for analysis, see Figure 4.

Table 1. Association between vessel morphology and ceramic fabric of the sampled sherds.

Sample	Vessel type	Fabric type	Inventory number	Reference	Notes on the vessel type
VT-CB 1	Biconical urn	B	2284	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 45
VT-CB 2	Bell-helmet cover	C	1054	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 110	Symbolic function
VT-CB 3	Biconical urn	A	783	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 48
VT-CB 4	Biconical urn	A	773
VT-CB 5	Biconical urn	A	782
VT-CB 6	Biconical urn	B	777
VT-CB 7	Jar/Jug	A	822	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 101
VT-CB 8	Biconical urn	B	826
VT-CB 9	Jar	A	824	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 51
VT-CB 10	Cup	A	814	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 105
VT-CB 11	Biconical urn	B	827
VT-CB 12	Biconical urn	A	799
VT-CB 13	Biconical urn	A	775–823
VT-CB 14	Bowl	A	813	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 53
VT-CB 15	Bowl	A	802	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 76
VT-CB 16	Biconical urn	A	776
VT-CB 17	Biconical urn	A	786
VT-CB 18	Bowl	A	803	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 62
VT-CB 19	Jug/Jar	A	828	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 113
VT-CB 20	Bell-helmet cover	B	1053	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 109	Symbolic function
VT-CB 21	Bowl	A	833
VT-CB 22	Bowl	A	812	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 54
VT-CB 23	Bowl	A	1316	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 88
VT-CB 24	Biconical urn	B	3957
VT-CB 25	Biconical urn	A	832
VT-CB 26	Biconical urn	A	3938
VT-CB 27	Situla	A	810	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 100
VT-CB 28	Biconical urn	B	772	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 46
VT-CB 29	Bowl	A	801	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 81
VT-CB 30	Biconical urn	A	1313	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 36	Local type
VT-CB 31	Biconical urn	A	825	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 43	Local type
VT-CB 32	Jar/Jug	B	818	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 114
VT-CB 33	Biconical urn	A	1327	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 50
VT-CB 34	Biconical urn	A	785	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 40
VT-CB 35	Biconical urn	A	784	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 49
VT-CB 36	Cup	B	811	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 104
VT-CB 37	Bowl	B	1318	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 58
VT-CB 38	Biconical urn	A	5356	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 47
VT-CB 39	Biconical urn	A	792	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 39
VT-CB 40	Multi-spouted jug	A	821	Morandi (2022), cat. no. 99	Rare type, possible ritual use

Figure 4. Location of the geological samples taken to produce comparative thin sections. A: Brackish wetland of Diaccia Botrona; B: River Bruna; C: River Sovata; D: River Ombrone; E: Tributary of stream Rigo; F: Sandstone from Formation 3; G: Clay from Formation 3; H: Sandstone from Formation 31; I: Clay from Formation 31; J: Claystone from Formation 27; K: Hill of Poggio Moscona containing flint nodules (Formation 33); L: Flint nodules from Poggio Paganella (Formation 33).

Figure 5. Colour, evidence for forming techniques and surface treatment of Villanovan vessels from Colle Baroncio. A: blackish/dark grey surface of pottery fired under reducing conditions; B: Coiling traces on a biconical urn; C: Parallel marks left by surface treatment on the handle of a biconical urn.

Table 2. Characteristics of ceramic fabrics.

A – Fabric with metasedimentary rocks	VT-CB 3, VT-CB 4,VT-CB 5, VT-CB 7, VT-CB 9, VT-CB 10, VT-CB 12, VT-CB 13, VT-CB 14, VT-CB 15, VT-CB 16, VT-CB 17, VT-CB 18, VT-CB 19, VT-CB 21, VT-CB 22, VT-CB 23, VT-CB 25,VT-CB 26, VT-CB 27, VT-CB 29, VT-CB 30, VT-CB 31, VT-CB 33, VT-CB 34, VT-CB 35, VT-CB 38, VT-CB 39, VT-CB 40
Inclusions	40%, equant or elongate, angular, poorly/moderately sorted, randomly oriented, weakly bimodal
Coarse fraction	40–50%, moderately well sorted (min. 0.2 mm, max. 0.8 mm, average 0.5 mm)
Dominant	Quartz (sub-angular) (max. 0.75 mm, av. 0.3 mm)
Frequent	Fragments of metasedimentary rocks mostly composed of quartz and rarely muscovite (sub-angular) (max. 2.20 mm, av. 0.7 mm)
Common to few	Fragments of sedimentary rocks (sandstone, mudstones) (sub-angular) (max. 0.7 mm, av. 0.25 mm)
	Plagioclase (ang. to sub-angular) (max. 0.35 mm, av. 0.2 mm)
	Sanidine (ang. to sub-angular) (max. 1.00 mm, av. 0.3 mm)
	Microcline (ang. to sub-angular) (max. 0.6 mm, av. 0.2 mm)
	Perthite (ang. to sub-angular) (, max. 1.10 mm, av. 0.6 mm)
	Chert (sub-angular to sub-rounded) (max. 0.5 mm, av. 0.25 mm)
	Textural features: reddish clay pellets, marked frequently by quartz and feldspars
	Opaques (rounded to sub-angular) (max. 0.25 mm, av. 0.1 mm)
Rare	Muscovite (elongate) (max. 0.3 mm, av. 0.2 mm)
Fine fraction	50–60%, well sorted (min. 0.03 mm, max. 0.12 mm, av. 0.07 mm)
Predominant	Quartz (sub-angular) (max. 0.1 mm, av. 0.05 mm)
Rare	Muscovite (elongate) (max. 0.08 mm, av. 0.02 mm)
Matrix	50%, non-calcareous, dark to light brown/orange
Voids	10%, mostly planar (c. 0.1–0.2 mm), few vesicles (c. 0.1–0.2 mm)
B – Flint-tempered fabric	VT-CB 1, VT-CB 6, VT-CB 8, VT-CB 11, VT-CB 20, VT-CB 24, VT-CB 28, VT-CB 32, VT-CB 36, VT-CB 37
Inclusions	40%, equant or elongate, angular, moderately sorted, randomly oriented, bimodal
Coarse fraction	40–50%, moderately well sorted (min. 0.5 mm, max. 3.5 mm, av. 0.5 mm)
Dominant	Flint, 0.5–3.5 mm (sub-angular to elongate) (max. 4.0 mm, av. 2.5 mm)
Frequent	Quartz (sub-angular) (max. 1.1 mm, av. 0.6 mm)
	Fragments of metasedimentary rocks mostly composed of quartz and rarely muscovite (sub-angular) (max. 3.0 mm, av. 1.0–1.5 mm)
Common to few	Fragments of sedimentary rocks (sandstone, mudstones) (sub-angular) (max. 2.0 mm, av. 0.7 mm)
	Plagioclase (ang. to sub-angular) (max. 0.5 mm, av. 0.4 mm)
	Sanidine (ang. to sub-angular) (max. 0.6 mm, av. 0.3 mm)
	Microcline (ang. to sub-angular) (max. 0.8 mm, av. 0.4 mm)
	Perthite (ang. to sub-angular) (max. 0.8 mm, av. 0.5 mm)
	Chert (sub-angular to sub-rounded) (max. 1 mm, av. 0.4 mm)
	Textural features: reddish clay pellets, marked frequently by quartz and feldspars (max. 0.8 mm, av. 0.5 mm)
	Opaques (rounded to sub-angular) (max. 0.3 mm, av. 0.25 mm)
Rare	Muscovite (elongate) (max. 0.4 mm, av. 0.2)
Fine fraction	50–60%, moderately well sorted (min. 0.03 mm, max. 0.12 mm, av. 0.07 mm)
Predominant	Quartz (sub-angular) (av. 0.05–0.08 mm, max. 0.2 mm)
	Opaques (rounded to sub-angular) (max. 0.1 mm, av. 0.02 mm)
	Muscovite (elongate) (max. 0.12 mm, av. 0.05 mm)
Rare	Biotite (elongate) (max. 0.1 mm, av. 0.05 mm)
Matrix	50%, non-calcareous, dark to light brown/orange
Voids	10%, planar (c. 0.25–0.5 mm)
C – Muscovite-rich fabric	VT-CB 2
Inclusions	40%, equant or elongate, angular, moderately sorted, randomly oriented, bimodal
Coarse fraction	40–50%, moderately well sorted (min. 0.5 mm, max. 3.5 mm, av. 0.5 mm)
Dominant	Muscovite (elongate) (max. 2.5 mm, av. 0.5 mm)
Frequent	Quartz (sub-angular) (max. 0.4 mm, av. 0.2 mm)
	Fragments of metasedimentary rocks mostly composed of quartz and muscovite (sub-angular) (max. 3.5 mm, av. 0.7 mm)
Common	Fragments of sedimentary rocks (sub-angular): Sandstone (max. 1.2 mm, av. 0.6 mm) Mudstone (max. 1.5 mm, av. 0.3 mm)
	Plagioclase (ang. to sub-angular) (max. 0.5 mm, av. 0.25 mm)
	Sanidine (ang. to sub-angular) (max. 0.6 mm, av. 0.4 mm)
Few	Perthite (ang. to sub-angular) (max. 1.20 mm, av. 0.7 mm)
Rare	Biotite (ang. to sub-angular) (max. 0.2 mm, av. 0.08 mm)
	Amphibole (angular) (max. 0.2 mm)
Fine fraction	50–60%, moderately well sorted (min. 0.03 mm, max. 0.12 mm, av. 0.07 mm)
Predominant	Quartz (sub-angular) (max. 0.1 mm, av. 0.07 mm)
Rare	Muscovite (elongate) (max. 0.1 mm, av. 0.04 mm)
	Biotite (elongate) (max. 0.15, av. 0.05 mm)
	Opaques (rounded to sub-angular) (max. 0.05 mm, av. 0.04 mm)
Matrix	50% non-calcareous, dark to light brown/orange
Voids	10%, planar (c. 0.25–0.50 mm), vughs (c. 0.5–1 mm), vesicles (c. 0.5–1 mm)

Figure 6. Thin-section photomicrographs of selected archaeological ceramic samples from the Villanovan cemetery of Colle Baroncio. Fabric A (non-tempered clay): 1. VT-CB 4; 2. VT-CB 5; 3. VT-CB 10; 4. VT-CB 14; 5. VT-CB 15; 6. VT-CB 31. Fabric B (clay tempered with flint): 7. VT-CB 8; C: 8. VT-CB 36; 9. VT-CB 37. Fabric C (clay tempered with metasedimentary rocks): 10. VT-CB 2; 11. VT-CB 2; 12. VT-CB 2. All pictures taken under XP; field of view: nos. 1–3, 5–6, 8–9, 11–12 = 1.5 mm; nos. 4 = 3 mm; nos. 7, 10 = 6 mm.

Figure 7. Thin-section photomicrographs of geological samples from the territory of Vetulonia. 1. Fine sediment fraction from River Ombrone; 2. Fine sediment fraction from River Ombrone; 3. Fine sediment fraction from River Bruna; 4. Fine sediment fraction from Stream Sovata; 5. Fine sediment fraction from Stream Sovata; 6. Fine sediment fraction from a tributary of stream Rigo; 7. Fine sediment fraction from the brackish wetland of Diaccia Botrona; 8. Clay from Formation 3; 9. Sedimentary rock from Formation 3; 10. Clay from Formation 31; 11. Sedimentary rock from Formation 31; 12. Flint from Formation 33 near Caldana. All pictures taken under XP; field of view: nos. 1–5, 7, 12 = 1.5 mm; nos. 6, 8–11 = 3 mm.

Figure 8. Unfired flint (left) and flint subjected to firing in a reducing atmosphere (right). Scale bar = 4 cm.

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