Greek archaic ceramics manufactured in Huelva

In the late 1980s, a group of Greek Archaic pottery characterized by a greenish yellow paste was differentiated in the city of Huelva, Spain. The origin of these vases, unknown so far in other archaeological sites, had remained undetermined. This paper proves a production in situ based on the uniqueness of the location, the formal and decorative features of the documented types, certain anomalies in the shape of an amphora and, definitely, the analytical characterization of clays by XRay Powder Diffraction and Neutron Activation Analysis. The former method showed the formation, during the ceramic firing process, of crystalline phases (diopside, anorthite and gehlenite) compatible with the primary composition of the clay from local deposits, rich in carbonates; while the latter, showed a close similarity between the chemical composition of both pottery and local clay materials. Of great interest is the presence of gold and silver in the ceramic clays. The same analytical determinations in two samples of other poorly delimited group of Archaic Greek pottery, characterized by orange, reddish or yellowish clay, reddish slip and low quality, point out that a part or perhaps most ceramic wares of such characteristics were also locally produced.