Ceramic production and trade in Eivissa (Balearic Islands Spain) during Vandal rule: An integrated analytical study

Abstract

An assemblage of ceramics discovered at the Es Castell site in the island of Eivissa, Spain, represents a significant archaeological context dating back to the period when the Balearic Islands were under the rule of the Vandal Kingdom of Carthage. Through archaeometric analysis, new evidence has emerged regarding the production and trade of ceramics on the island during this era. The pottery selection examined includes common wares, amphorae, and cooking wares. Utilizing techniques such as WD X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and optical microscopy through thin-section analysis, a comprehensive chemical, mineralogical, and petrographic characterization was conducted.

The results reveal that common wares, along with certain types of amphorae, were locally manufactured on the island, potentially in multiple production centers. Conversely, cooking wares and other amphorae were imported to Eivissa, as evidenced by their fabric composition, which does not align with the geological properties of the island and is also found in other archaeological contexts across the western Mediterranean.