Studio delle paste ceramiche di anfore della laguna di Venezia mediante una procedura basata sulla elaborazione di immagini

The present article is part of a research project covering the imported and local amphorae found in the Veneto region. The study is specifically based on fragments of Spanish amphorae found in the Venetian lagoon. Several samples could be clearly identified as fragments of the forms coming from Baetica region (e.g., Dr 8, Dr 38, Dr 7/11, Dr 20 and Dr 20-23); other samples of very limited size could be reliably identified. In order to attempt a broad identification we have studied the composition of the pastes of a small number of fragments by means of mineralogical and petrographic analyses. In addition we used image processing techniques: in particular, we have designed a classification procedure that will perform morphologic, chromatic, ratiometric and spectral analyses on the images of thin sections of the amphorae, taken by a polarising microscope. The procedure could be completed by analysing a considerable amount of samples, that will allow to establish the decision thresholds used in the classification process; the procedure will facilitate the fusion of data and information obtained with different destructive and non destructive tests of the samples, so that it could constitute a useful tool for the archeological research.