From Andalusia to the Atlantic During Early Globalization: Multidisciplinary Archaeometric Approach to Ceramic Production from Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)

The technological development of ceramic production during the early modern period in the Iberian Peninsula is a crucial topic in historical archaeological research. The present study analyzes pottery from Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, focusing on ceramic materials from the Convent of Santo Domin...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Guerrero Rivero, Saúl, García Iñañez, Javier, Amores Carredano, Fernando J. de, Bento Torres, Joana, Teixeira, André, Arana, Gorka, Sánchez Zavala, José Luis
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/172260
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/172260
https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics8010020
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Archaeometry
Pottery
Early modern period
Petrography
XRD
ICP-MS
Iberian colonial expansion
Descripción
Sumario:The technological development of ceramic production during the early modern period in the Iberian Peninsula is a crucial topic in historical archaeological research. The present study analyzes pottery from Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, focusing on ceramic materials from the Convent of Santo Domingo (late 15th to early 17th centuries). Through the analysis of production wastes, including dolia and olive jars (botijas), this text unveils key aspects of regional ceramics practices. Using a multidisciplinary archaeometric ap proach, we applied petrography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to investigate compositional, technological, and provenance characteristics. The petrographic analysis identified clay matrix variability and mineral inclusions, indicating diverse raw material sources and production techniques. The XRD analysis confirmed key mineral phases that reflect controlled firing temperatures, while the ICP-MS analyses provided trace element profiles that were used to distinguish between local and non-local raw materials. Together, these results reveal technological shifts and resource diversity over time, challenging the assumption that Seville was the sole supplier of ceramics for Atlantic trade. This study establishes Jerez as a potential complementary production center, offering a new understanding of early globalization processes and ceramics manufacturing in southwestern Andalusia.