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Reconstructing Firing Procedures of Roman Amphorae from Hispania Lusitania and Baetica by Mossbauer Spectroscopy
Authors: Costa, BFO; Wagner, FE; Wagner, U.; Haeusler, W.; Stieghorst, C.; Silva, A.J.
Ref.: Crystals 16(7), 434 (2026)
Abstract: Roman amphorae are among the most frequently excavated archaeological ceramics and provide valuable information on ancient manufacturing techniques and trade networks. This work presents a comparative M & ouml;ssbauer spectroscopy study of amphora sherds recovered from kiln sites in the Roman provinces of Hispania Lusitania and Baetica in order to reconstruct firing procedures and assess the influence of raw material composition on ceramic appearance and iron speciation. Three representative samples-Sao Louren & ccedil;o (Lusitania), Lebrija (Baetica), and Arva (Baetica)-were investigated by Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy at room temperature and 4.2 K, complemented by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and controlled laboratory re-firing experiments under reducing and oxidising atmospheres. The M & ouml;ssbauer results reveal that all studied amphorae were originally fired under variable redox conditions, involving a reducing stage followed by partial oxidation during the final stages of firing and cooling. Re-firing experiments reproduced the original spectra and demonstrated that the observed iron phase assemblages reflect primary technological processes rather than post-depositional alteration. Low-calcium ceramics developed abundant hematite and characteristic red colours after oxidation, whereas calcium-rich ceramics favoured incorporation of iron into gehlenite and vitreous phases, producing buff or grey colouration. The Arva samples further illustrate how incomplete oxygen penetration generated red oxidised surfaces surrounding partially reduced cores. These results demonstrate that Roman amphora production at the kiln sites studied relied on empirically controlled firing regimes in open updraught kilns and that calcium content was a major factor governing both iron mineralogy and final ceramic appearance.
