Investigations on provenance and content of archaic transport amphorae from Castello di Alceste (S.Vito dei Normanni-Br) by chemical analyses through XRF/FP and GC-MS

The aim of this work was to determine the provenance and the content of a group of archaic transport amphorae of different typologies retrieved during the archaeological excavations in the archaic settlement of Castello di Alceste (S.Vito dei Normanni-Br). We analysed a group of 16 samples belonging mainly to “Corinthian B” amphorae, which are widely diffused in the western Mediterranean basin and in Greece, but whose geographical provenance is still under discussion. XRF/FP analyses revealed that the amphorae were manufactured in three different areas of the Mediterranean: southern Italy, Ionian Islands and Corinth. GC-MS analyses revealed that most of the amphorae contained wine markers, together with pine resin, probably used as a sealant for the vessel or an additive to preserve wine. The contemporary presence of oil or animal fats in some containers suggests a possible reuse of the amphorae to store and preserve other foodstuffs