Surface analyses of 'impasto rosso' pottery from Southern Etruria and Latium

Several fragments of Etruscan and Latial ceramic pottery (from the sixth to eighth centuries BC) were analysed to study both raw materials and structural characteristics of the clay production. The samples come from the Monte Artemisio settlement near Velletri (Latium Vetus) and from Casale del Fosso necropolis at Veio, one of the main Southern Etruria centres. The aim of this paper was to identify techniques used for finishing surfaces and eventually for applying decorations, Scanning electron microscope energy dispersive spectroscopic (SEM-EDS) analyses of different samples were carried out in order to highlight possible differences in mixtures as well as pigment application methods and natural colouring during firing. Mineralogical composition of mixtures was determined by means of X-ray powder diffraction.