The tell of Yumuktepe (Mersin, Turkey) is one of the most important multi-layered archaeological sites in the Eastern Mediterranean, showing continuous settlement over 8000 years. This study presents the archaeometric investigation of pottery from the Late and Final Chalcolithic (4500–3000 BC) and the Iron Age (900–350 BC), aimed at evaluating artisanal skills and distinguishing local from imported wares. A multi-analytical approach combining colorimetry, PXRD, digital image analysis, micro-Raman spectroscopy and LA-ICP-MS, supported by chemometrics and multivariate statistics, was applied to 34 samples, alternatively to standard archaeometric approaches. Results confirm the technological gap between the two groups: Iron Age ceramics display carbonate-poor clays, refined fabrics and controlled firing, while Chalcolithic ones show coarser fabrics and uneven firing. Raman and geochemical data identified mineralogical and elemental fingerprints, suggesting mainly local Chalcolithic production versus more diverse, possibly imported Iron Age wares, reflecting evolving exchange networks from several potential Eastern Mediterranean localities.
Privitera et al. (Tue,) studied this question.