First archaeometric characterization of late medieval ceramics from Murcia (15th–16th centuries)

The ceramic production of late medieval Murcia (15th–16th centuries) remains largely unexplored from an archaeometric perspective. Existing studies have focused primarily on typological and documentary approaches, leaving a significant gap in the compositional and technological understanding of these materials. This research presents the first archaeometric characterization of ceramic production from this period in the city of Murcia (Spain), based on the analysis of 31 fragments recovered from the excavations at Plaza Yesqueros (Robles Fernández & Navarro Santa-Cruz, 1999, pp. 571–600). The goal is to establish a reference framework that serves as a basis for future provenance and distribution studies. The analytical methodology involved the application of optical microscopy (OM), portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), cathodoluminescence (CL), and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) on the selected fragments. This combined approach enabled the identification of compositional groupings, the characterization of ceramic pastes and glaze technologies, and the determination of firing conditions, thus defining the main technological features of these productions. The results provide a solid foundation for advancing the identification of Murcian ceramics in consumption contexts, deepening the understanding of local technological practices, and assessing their potential distribution within the ceramic networks of the late medieval Iberian southeast.