POTTERY THROUGH TIME AT TELL SEHMANI (Syria): A Diachronic-Macroscopic Approach of the Ceramic Production.

This master thesis is part of Tell Shemani project, an international project where the University of Pavia and a DGAM team of the Museum of Latakia, in Syria collaborate for the understanding of the rural landscape of Ancient Syria. The work presented here is focus on the diachronic-macroscopic study of the ceramics from the site of Tell Semhani, in the region of Latakia, Syria. The objective was to divide the collected samples into different macroscopic groups and in addition, with the support of ARVEDI laboratory from the University of Pavia, identified mineral inclusions aiming at the identification of local and non-local production. The identification of 27 macroscopic groups and the study of their inclusions allowed to theorize about the change of raw materials and production techniques through time. All the produced data allowed the identification of local boundaries, emerging particular examples for non-local production like the Cypriot typology of Milk bowls that frame Tell Semhani in a supra-regional context. Key words: Archaeometry, ceramics, macroscopic analysis, Syria.

This master thesis is part of Tell Shemani project, an international project where the University of Pavia and a DGAM team of the Museum of Latakia, in Syria collaborate for the understanding of the rural landscape of Ancient Syria. The work presented here is focus on the diachronic-macroscopic study of the ceramics from the site of Tell Semhani, in the region of Latakia, Syria. The objective was to divide the collected samples into different macroscopic groups and in addition, with the support of ARVEDI laboratory from the University of Pavia, identified mineral inclusions aiming at the identification of local and non-local production. The identification of 27 macroscopic groups and the study of their inclusions allowed to theorize about the change of raw materials and production techniques through time. All the produced data allowed the identification of local boundaries, emerging particular examples for non-local production like the Cypriot typology of Milk bowls that frame Tell Semhani in a superegional context. Key words: Archaeometry, ceramics, macroscopic analysis, Syria.