Time-of-flight neutron diffraction characterization of ceramic findings from southern and western Sicily

We present the results of a study that is part of a wider research programme regarding knowledge of the initial living phases of Sicilian agricultural and pastoral society. Three sets of ceramic samples were analysed through time-of-flight neutron diffraction (TOF-ND) to derive information about the composition of the clay and the manufacturing techniques. The first two sets of sherds came from an excavation in Licata, close to Agrigento, and are composed of findings dated around the third century BC , while the third set was of samples from prehistoric sites located in the northwestern part of Sicily. Measurements were performed to obtain a quantitative identification of the mineralogical composition of the samples in a totally non-destructive way. Hints about manufacturing techniques and firing temperatures are derived to provide information on provenance and production processes of the objects.