From July 28 to August 1, 2025, the University of Tübingen hosted the master’s course Material Science and Archaeological Ceramics: Ancient Pottery and its Pigments, directed by Silvia Amicone, providing students with a comprehensive introduction to the technological study of pigments and decoration techniques in archaeological ceramics through a material science lens.

The course offered theoretical and practical training in essential archaeometric techniques, including optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy, equipping participants with the skills to analyze pottery decorations and design research projects addressing archaeological questions.

A highlight of the course took place on Thursday, July 31, 2025, when Judit Molera (University of UVic-UCC) delivered a lecture on Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction (DRX) to Study Ceramic Glaze Pigments. Her session showcased how cutting-edge synchrotron techniques can reveal detailed information about the composition and application of ancient ceramic pigments, bridging material science and archaeology in an innovative way.

The course schedule also included lectures and practical demonstrations by experts such as Silvia Amicone, Sinem Hacıosmanoglu, Christoph Berthold, Baptiste Solard, Lars Heinze, Vanessa Forte, and Alfonso Zoleo, covering topics from the basics of pottery production to advanced pigment analysis techniques.

 

Time Schedule of the Course

starting on 28.07.2025 at 13ct in the Übungsraum Lothar Meyer Bau Wilhelmstrasse 56

 

Monday July 28th, 2025

13.00 – 13.30 Welcome

13.30 – 14.30 Introduction to the pottery production process (Silvia Amicone)

14.30 – 15.00 Break

15.00 – 16.00 Optical microscopy, theory (Silvia Amicone)

16.00 – 16.30 Optical microscopy, practical demonstration (Sinem Hacıosmanoglu)

16.30 – 17.00 Summary and discussion

Tuesday July 29th, 2025

9.00 – 9.30 Introduction

9.30 – 10.45 Iron black and manganese black (Silvia Amicone)

10.45 – 11.00 Break

11.00 – 12.30 X-ray diffraction, theory (Christoph Berthold)

12.30 – 13.30 Break

13.30 – 14.00 Micro X-ray diffraction, practical demonstration (Baptiste Solard)

14.00 – 14.30 Summary and discussion

14.30 – 15.00 Break

15.00 – 16.30 (online) Vanessa Forte Creating colour through finishing and firing: surface treatments between function and aesthetics.

Wednesday July 30th, 2025

9.00 – 9.30 Introduction

9.30 – 10.45 Carbon-based pigments (Silvia Amicone)

10.45 – 11.00 Break

11.00 – 12.30 Raman spectroscopy, theory (Baptiste Solard)

12.30 – 13.30 Break

13.30 – 14.00 Raman spectroscopy, practical demonstration (Sinem Hacıosmanoglu)

14.00 – 14.30 Summary and discussion

15.00 – 16.30 Alfonso Zoleo (University of Padova) IR techniques applied to the characterization of pigments and dyes: an overview.

Thursday July 31th, 2025

9.00 – 9.30 Introduction

9.30 – 10.45 Colouring Agents for Glass and Glazes (Baptiste Solard)

10.45 – 11.00 Break

11.00 – 12.30 X-ray fluorescence analysis and scanning electron microscopy, theory (Lars Heinze)

12.30 – 13.30 Break

13.30 – 14.00 X-ray fluorescence analysis and scanning electron microscopy, practical demonstration

(Baptiste Solard and Lars Heinze)

14.00 – 14.30 Break

14.30 – 15.00 Summary and discussion

15.00 – 16.30 Judit Molera (University of UVic-UCC, Barcelona) Synchrotron X-ray diffraction (DRX) to study ceramic glaze pigments.

Friday August 1st, 2025

9.00 – 9.30 Introduction

9.30 – 10.30 Iron oxidation technique (Silvia Amicone)

10.30 – 10.45 Break

10.45 – 12.15 Cold pottery pigments (Silvia Amicone)

12.15 – 13.15 Final remarks