Technological features of Roman Terra Sigillata from Gallic and Italian centres of production

Technological features of sherds of Roman terra sigillata were studied. The sherds analysed represented products of workshops which were most probably located in Gaul, central Italy, north-west Italy and the plain of the rive r Po. Equivalent firing temperatures were estimated by colour measurement, X-ray diffraction and thermal expansion measurement; in addition, the chemi cal and morphological features of the red sintered slips were investigated using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray mic roanalysis. The combined results suggest that, relative to northern Italian products, terra sigillata from Gaul and central Italy was made by potters who were more successful in modifying slip composition and controlling firi ng temperature to obtain highly sintered slips. Northern Italian potters se em to have worked their clays less successfully and fired them at temperatu res which were too low to overcome the limited presence of fluxes in the sl ip.