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Image Credit: Sharon Mollerus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Medieval Ceramics Reveal Innovation and Exchange in Southern Italy
A new study has examined medieval glazed ceramics from southern Italy, showing how potters between the 13th and 14th centuries developed creative technological solutions while working within the wider cultural networks of the Mediterranean.
The research focused on fine tableware from sites in northern Apulia, including Castel Fiorentino, Lucera, Siponto, Canosa, and Melfi. These sites were closely connected to the age of Frederick II and reflect strong cultural and commercial links between southern Italy, the Islamic world, and the eastern Mediterranean.
Researchers analyzed 114 ceramic fragments, including lead-glazed wares and lead–tin-glazed Protomaiolica, a production that preceded later Maiolica ceramics. Using archaeometric methods such as SEM-EDS, X-ray diffraction, and chemical analysis, the study reconstructed glaze composition, pigments, firing methods, and raw-material choices.
The results show that medieval potters used both precious imported materials and cheaper local substitutes. In some high-quality blue decorations, lapis lazuli was used, while at Melfi Castle artisans employed haüynophyre, a local volcanic material, as a less expensive alternative capable of producing a similar blue color.
The study also found several techniques used to imitate the white, opaque appearance usually achieved with costly tin-based compounds. These included quartz-rich lead glazes, calcium- or magnesium-based underlayers, and simplified firing methods that reduced fuel and production time.
According to the researchers, these technological choices point to local production shaped by external influences rather than simple importation. The ceramics reflect a period of experimentation, adaptation, and cultural exchange in which Islamic traditions were reinterpreted by southern Italian workshops.
The findings highlight the value of combining archaeology and scientific analysis to better understand medieval craft production, trade, and cultural interaction across the Mediterranean.
Published on: 15-05-2026
Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie
Source: npj Heritage Science
