Bronze Age Impasto Ceramics from Roca Vecchia (Lecce, Italy): microstructural data

This dataset includes the microstructural and semi-quantitative data obtained by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with a Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) of the Impasto ceramics from the Middle to Final Bronze Age phases recovered at the site of Roca Vecchia (Lecce, italy). These data were collected as part of Roca Archaeological Survey project (RAS) directed by Francesco Iacono of the University of Bologna (Italy) in collaboration with Roberta Mentesana of the ARQUB team of the University of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). <br>

SEM observations were performed on fresh cross-section fractures passing through the oro-aboral axis of the body wall in order to observe the microstructure. Bulk specimens were fixed on metal specimen stubs using silicone adhesive and the non-conductive ceramic specimens were made conductive. Colloidal silver paint was applied on excess silicone adhesive and lateral sides of ceramic bulk specimen. Then, the specimen surface was coated with a thin carbon film (~ 10 nm) by vacuum evaporation. The observations were made by using a FEI QUANTA 200 coupled with a microanalizer EDX: Thermo Ultradry – Pathfinder and photomicrograph taken at x2000. The observations were performed using an acceleration voltage of 20 kV and a working distance of 10 mm.The determined elements were: Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, K2O, CaO,TiO2,Fe2O3 (as total Fe). <br>

The photomicrographs show the micromorphology of the pots, where the vitrification stages could be identified. The photomicrographs were taken at the core, and at the bottom margin and top margin of the ceramic section when possible. When stated in the file name, the top margin include the surface. Microstructures are described and discussed in: Mentesana R. and Iacono F. 2024. Crafting resilience: persistence and adaptation of the ceramic manufacture at Roca Vecchia from the Middle to the Final Bronze Age phases. Anthropological and Archaeological Science. At the bottom of the photomicrographs, the image detection method (det), the accelerating voltage (HV), the working distance (WD), the magnification (mag) parameters and the scalebar could be found. Photomicrographs were taken at the CCiTUB of the Universitat de Barcelona. <br>

This dataset includes also a file named Roca_SEM samples, a semi-colon file with the characteristics of each sample; and a file named Roca_EDX results,a semi-colon file with the semi-quantitative EDX results.