PIXE ANALYSIS OF POTTERY FROM THE RECOVERY OF A RENAISSANCE WRECK

Pottery recovered in a recent marine archaeology campaign in the sea o f Liguria (Italy), from the so-called leudo cli Varazze wreck, has bee n analysed by PIXE. By measuring the ratio of each observed element to iron, we have characterised the composition of the clay with particul ar attention to possible contamination due to the long immersion in th e sea. The present results have been associated, in a discriminant ana lysis, to those obtained during a previous campaign on a set of furnac e rejects coming from the towns of Savona and Albissola, to investigat e the provenance of the crockery. Both are located a few miles west of the wreck and were important pottery centres. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien ce B.V.