Hellenistic ceramics of Cyprus: Provenance study

A collection of Hellenistic pottery sherds excavated at the Hill of Agios Georgios in Nicosia, Cyprus was analyzed in the IIRMES (the Institute for Integrated Research in Materials, Environments, and Society) laboratory utilizing LA-TOF-ICP-MS (laser ablation-time of flight-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry). Ceramics from other chronological periods and locations, including sherds from the nearby sanctuary cave at Kafizin, were also analyzed and compared to those of Agios Georgios. The intention of this study is to examine the effectiveness of LA-TOF-ICP-MS as a tool for exploring archaeological questions of pottery provenance, to compare LA-TOF-ICP-MS data with INAA data, to investigate elemental slip and pigment recipes, and to examine resulting compositional data to determine the likelihood of correspondence with local sources and possibility of local manufacture. In addition, the chemical analysis will contribute useful information for further inquiry into the evolution of ceramic technology and identification of regional exchange patterns.