A pilgrim's ampulla from San Giacomo in Paludo (Venice). Provenance hypothesis through lead isotope ratio analysis

A pilgrim's ampulla found in the Cistercian nunnery of San Giacomo in Paludo (Venice) has been studied by EDS, XRF and lead isotopic ratio analysis in order to address provenance hypothesis and compositional issues. This devotional object is one of only a few found in Italy of this type, and the only one to be recovered from a stratigraphical excavation. The results seem to indicate a provenance from Italy or from Germany and the context in which the ampulla was found indicates a chronological time around the first quarter of the 14th century.