Journal of Archaeological Science (1996) 23, 903–914 Roman Glazed Ceramics in the Western Mediterranean: Chemical Characterization by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry of Ceramic Bodies Josefina Pérez-Arantegui, M. Isabel Urun ˜ uela and Juan R. Castillo Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain (Received 17 July 1995, revised manuscript accepted 11 December 1995) Several objects of Roman lead-glazed ceramic, found in Hispania (Spain), were sampled and analysed in order to characterize them to study the spread of glazed ceramic in the western Mediterranean. Chemical analyses were carried out by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry. Studies of the chemical composition of the ceramic bodies indicate that ceramics from two different production centres reached Hispania during the Roman period: a non-calcareous fabric, coming from Lyon workshops, and calcareous bodies with bicoloured glazes from another main production centre, which is suggested to be Italy. Other objects, of central Gaulish or eastern origin, have also been found in the western Mediterranean, but only occasionally.  1996 Academic Press Limited Keywords: ROMAN GLAZED CERAMIC, WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN, BODY ANALYSIS, ICP-AES. Lead Glazed Ceramics in the Roman World T he glazed ceramic technique was a tradition that originated in the Eastern Roman world, par- ticularly the Syrian and Cilician regions. It had already appeared by the Augustan period (Beltrán Lloris, 1978). Lead glazed objects were originally manufactured in the east. Their production flourished during the Hellenistic period in the region of Tarsus, from which the technique spread to all the other regions during the 1st century  (Alarçao, 1976). Several possible production centres have already been studied or suggested for the western Roman world: Italy, Gaul, Britain, Germany or Spain (Alarçao, 1976; Desbat, 1986a; Hatcher et al., 1994). Roman glazed ceramic workshops also manufac- tured other more popular and inexpensive ceramics. However, Roman glazed pottery was especially ap- preciated when it looked like a metallic object, because it was more affordable. This is the reason for some forms becoming very popular, such as the skyphos, the khantaros, etc. There were also some attempts at imitating thin-walled ceramics. Lead glazes, known since the second millennium , were made of non-clay minerals containing lead. These were ground, directly applied and fired at a relatively low temperature (from 800 to 1000C). Glazes of this type have very shiny surfaces, due to their high refrac- tive index, and may exhibit a variety of colours. Only two colours were used in the Roman world: green, due to the presence of copper in the glaze, and yellow– honey-brown, resulting from a glaze-body reaction or from iron contained in the glaze. Casas & Merino (1990) propose an evolution of Roman glazed ceramic production since its earliest findings in Asia Minor. The sequence is based upon chronology, manufacture origin and distribution. Early objects produced in Tarsus were found in all the Mediterranean and Transalpine regions. Their impor- tation was started in the 1st century  with a peak in the 1st century . However, this importation was always limited because these ceramics were considered to be semi-luxury objects. During the 1st century , an interesting source of Italic glazed ceramics also developed. It started in northern Italy during the Augustan period, in the Aco workshops, which produced glazed ceramic in addition to Terra Sigillata and thin-walled pottery. It spread throughout the Roman Western world, so much so, that local branches were started in Lyon (Loyasse) to supply Gaul and the limes. These Lyon objects are so similar that it is nearly impossible to distinguish them from Italic objects. Glazed ceramic production in the 1st century  was not limited to the Italic peninsula. In fact, there was another important manufacturing area in central Gaul, with several renowned work- shops (particularly Saint-Rémy-en-Rollat and Vichy), although every workshop in the Allier and Loire Valleys (France) may also have manufactured glazed ceramics during the 1st century  (Vertet, 1986). Chronologically, the earlier materials were from the Tiberian period, but production extended until the end 903 0305–4403/96/060903+12 $25.00/0  1996 Academic Press Limited