Article In: orcid, cienciavitae

An archaeometric study of lead-glazed medieval ceramics (13th–14th Century) from Santarém, Portugal

Heritage

L.F. Vieira Ferreira; Tânia Manuel Casimiro; I. Ferreira Machado — 2024 — MDPI

Key information

Authors:

L.F. Vieira Ferreira; Tânia Manuel Casimiro; C. Boavida; Manuel F.C. Pereira (Manuel Francisco Costa Pereira); I. Ferreira Machado

Published in

April 2024

Abstract

Ceramic sherds from approximately 20 samples of lead-glazed tableware, recovered from diverse archaeological sites, including three repurposed storage pits transformed into dumpsters within the medieval city of Santarém (13th–14th century), underwent a meticulous examination. This investigation utilised techniques such as micro-Raman, ground-state diffuse reflectance absorption, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopies, in addition to X-ray diffraction and stereomicroscopy. A parallel study was conducted on contemporaneous European ceramics (glazed sherds) sourced from archaeological sites dating back to the 13th–15th centuries in Saintonge (France), Ardenne, Zomergem, and Bruges (Belgium), as well as Surrey–Hampshire, Kingston, and Cheam (England). The first premise for comparing the Santarem samples with European production locations was their frequent commercial relations with Portugal and the frequency of these productions being found in Portugal. The colour of the ceramic bodies is predominantly white or whitish, with a few exhibiting a vivid red hue. Analyses of the fabric, mineralogical, and elemental composition of the sherds suggest that the majority of Santarém’s glazed ceramics were locally or regionally produced, potentially derived from a Pliocene kaolin-rich sand formation. However, this conclusion is not supported by the absence of discovered lead glaze kilns or workshops in Santarém for the late Middle Ages.

Publication details

Authors in the community:

Publication version

AO - Author's Original

Publisher

MDPI

Link to the publisher's version

https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/7/5/105

Title of the publication container

Heritage

First page or article number

2217

Last page

2238

Volume

7

Issue

5

DOI

10.3390/heritage7050105

Fields of Science and Technology (FOS)

earth-and-related-environmental-sciences - Earth and related environmental sciences

Keywords

  • medieval ceramics
  • Santarém
  • micro-Raman
  • GSDR
  • XRD
  • XRF
  • SM

Publication language (ISO code)

eng - English

Alternative identifier (URI)

https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/7/5/105

Rights type:

Open access