Papers by Vayia Xanthopoulou
This study investigates the possible correspondence between the modern material known as Terra di... more This study investigates the possible correspondence between the modern material known as Terra di Nocera, traditionally used in cosmetic and therapeutic applications, and the creta umbrica described by Pliny the Elder as a substance employed in textile treatments. The multidisciplinary approach combined mineralogical and geochemical analyses to characterise samples of Terra di Nocera (Scaglia Cinerea Formation), alongside reference rocks from the Maiolica and Bisciaro Formations, and unfired clay loaves found in burial contexts at Serravalle di Chienti. The results demonstrate that Terra di Nocera is compositionally consistent with parts of the Scaglia Cinerea Formation and is characterised by abundant calcite and a clay fraction dominated by illite and smectites-a group of minerals known for their absorptive properties. These properties support its suitability for the textile and therapeutic uses described in ancient sources. The compositional similarity between the archaeological clay loaves and Scaglia Cinerea samples suggests a likely shared origin, though post-depositional processes or intentional mixing cannot be excluded. While the identification of Terra di Nocera with Pliny's creta umbrica remains hypothetical, the analytical evidence lends support to this hypothesis and underscores the cultural and functional relevance of this material from antiquity to the present.
Vay i a X a n t h o p o u l o u-I o a n n i s I l i o p o u l o s
Minerals, 2022
In this study, siliceous nodules from the world-famous Myrtos beach, as well as from Avithos beac... more In this study, siliceous nodules from the world-famous Myrtos beach, as well as from Avithos beach, in the western flanks of Kefalonia Island in Greece are examined by means of petrographical, mineralogical, geochemical and micropaleontological methods. The objectives of this study are to characterize the textural and compositional features of the nodules, with the aim to provide an initial interpretation of their origin and their diagenetic evolution. The studied siliceous nodules are hosted within Lower Cretaceous thin-bedded limestones at Myrtos and Upper Eocene limestones at Avithos. Nodules from both areas display a characteristic concentric texture at a macroscopic and microscopic scale. They both have a dense fine-grained siliceous sedimentary fabric, composed mainly of microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz and moganite with common residual calcite in the case of Avithos. These results, and in particular the shape of the nodules, along the textural and compositional ch...
Sustainability, 2021
The sustainable use of agricultural, industrial and human waste products as raw materials in the ... more The sustainable use of agricultural, industrial and human waste products as raw materials in the construction industry has been extensively investigated. This study aimed to conceive an innovative concrete composition mainly using recycled materials, which, as a result as waste from human activities and natural organic growth, such as animal bones and human hair, will be used in different mixtures in order to prepare concrete specimens. More specifically, the effect of these materials upon the final concrete strength was investigated, as well as how their petrographic characteristics may influence the durability of concrete specimens. Special emphasis was placed on the effect of the artificial increase in bone and hair microroughness and how these can improve the mechanical strength of the final product. The research results point towards the fact that the percentage of the replacement of natural aggregate rocks by animal bones tends to be enhanced by the increase in their microroug...
Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2018
Microscopic investigation of bone fossilization in aquatic environments
A new handwritten twenty pages' manuscript of initiation to the Greek secret "friendly society" o... more A new handwritten twenty pages' manuscript of initiation to the Greek secret "friendly society" organization which was formed beginning of 19 th century and essentially established the Greek independence against the Turks has been investigated. Historical accounts, spectroscopy analysis using Raman, X Ray Fluorescence and Near Infrared, for paper and ink characterization, as well as radiocarbon dating, and fractal of Minkowski Dimension algorithm of 5-lines and full-page handwritten text to identify number of scribers, and a novel preprocessing RGB color analysis of ink and paper identification have been applied. The investigation and results verify the dating of this manuscript to 1819, identify five types of iron gall inks, characterize the pulpwood and identify five different paper lots and four scribes from the ink content and handwritten styles of the compact five lines text and whole text pages. The results are mutually corroborated.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
GEOSCIENCES, 2021
The present study deals with the characterization of a ceramic assemblage from the
Late Mycenaean... more The present study deals with the characterization of a ceramic assemblage from the
Late Mycenaean (Late Helladic III) settlement of Kastrouli, at Desfina near Delphi, Central Greece
using various analytical techniques. Kastrouli is located in a strategic position supervising the
Mesokampos plateau and the entire peninsula and is related to other nearby coeval settlements. In
total 40 ceramic sherds and 8 clay raw materials were analyzed through mineralogical, petrographic
and microstructural techniques. Experimental briquettes (DS) made from clayey raw materials
collected in the vicinity of Kastrouli, were fired under temperatures (900 and 1050 C) in oxidizing
conditions for comparison with the ancient ceramics. The petrographic analysis performed on thin
sections prepared from the sherds has permitted the identification of six main fabric groups and a
couple of loners. The aplastic inclusions recognized in all fabric groups but one confirmed the local
provenance since they are related to the local geology. Fresh fractures of representative sherds were
further examined under a scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDS) helping us to classify them into
calcareous (CaO > 6%) and non-calcareous (CaO < 6%) samples (low and high calcium was noted in
earlier pXRF data). Here, the ceramic sherds with broad calcium separation are explored on a one-toone
comparison on the basis of detailed mineralogical microstructure. Moreover, their microstructure
was studied, aiming to estimate their vitrification stage. The mineralogy of all studied samples was
determined by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), permitting us to test the validity of the
firing temperatures revealed by the SEM analysis. The results obtained through the various analytical
techniques employed are jointly assessed in order to reveal potters’ technological choices
Αξιολόγηση της καταλληλότητας των αργιλικών πρώτων υλών για κεραμική παραγωγή στη Βόρεια Πελοπόννησο: αρχαιομετρική προσέγγιση
The aim of this study is to examine possible sources of clayey raw materials, outcropping in the ... more The aim of this study is to examine possible sources of clayey raw materials, outcropping in the territory of the northern Peloponnese, which was potentially used for ceramic production during antiquity and also to provide a detailed characterization and comparison as to their compositional and technological properties. This was accomplished by the systematic sampling of Holocene, Plio-Pleistocene and Pliocene clayey raw materials (59 samples) from a wide area (31 sites) spanning all over the northern Peloponnese, extending from the region of Aigialeia (Northwestern) to the region of Corinth (northeastern). In the case of the ceramic material, our selection was constrained by the recent important discoveries in the site of ancient Helike. The Early Bronze Age material unearthed therein highlights its significant role since then and possibly indicates one of the earliest ceramic productions attested in the area. Coeval archaeological sites do also exist in proximity to Ancient Helike...
This paper investigates the techniques of manufacture for ceramic vessels in the Early Helladic (... more This paper investigates the techniques of manufacture for ceramic vessels in the Early Helladic (EH) settlement of Helike, Achaia, and offers insights into the degree of standardization that determined pottery production in the Early Bronze Age (EBA) Peloponnese. Our research is based on an integrated program of analyses to ascertain the characterization of composition, provenance, and firing technology of ceramic samples representing a range of wares and vessel shapes from the site. Analytical methods employed comprise the following: thin-section petrography performed by optical microscopy, chemical analysis using WD-XRF, and ICP-MS methods and estimation of firing temperature and microstructure examination undertaken with XRPD and SEM respectively. The results led to the identification of four main and eight smaller fabric groups, and a certain number of loners based upon textural and compositional peculiarities. Two main groups in their CaO content correspond well with the petrographic assessments. The evaluation of X-ray diffractograms showed four different classes based upon mineralogical composition, and four main groups of firing temperatures clustering around 700 °C and 900-1100 °C. The results from observation of microstructure by SEM complement those of the XRPD groups. The microscope data, in confirmation of the macroscopic features, demonstrated that ceramic production at EH Helike employed standard models for crafting certain categories of vessel shapes but, simultaneously, permitted the use of individual technical choices at variance to the general rule.
The provenance of ceramic artefacts is one of the fundamental issues in ceramic analysis and is r... more The provenance of ceramic artefacts is one of the fundamental issues in ceramic analysis and is related to the location a ceramic object was produced or manufactured. This, in turn, refers to the clay source from where the ancient potter exploited their ceramic raw material. Being aware of the local geology is crucial to the identification of potential raw materials for the ceramic manufacturing. Thorough examination of clays in terms of composition, plastic behavior, shrinkage and particle size, is necessary for the evaluation of their suitability for ceramic production. A combination of several analytical techniques can contribute to the iden-tification and characterization of a ceramic raw material. The choice of the proper ones depends on different factors, such as precision, cost, time, expertise, availability and the way a researcher would combine them. The present study aims to unfold the criteria of clay sampling and investigate the appropriateness of the most relevant analy...
Materials Proceedings, 2022
Samples were collected from the argillic alteration zones in Sappes area, Thrace, Northern Greece... more Samples were collected from the argillic alteration zones in Sappes area, Thrace, Northern Greece and were examined for their mineralogical composition. Results showed that the sericite zone is the most widespread type of alteration in the studied area, followed by the transitional sericite–kaolinite zone and finally the pyrophyllite-rich zone. After determination of the spatial distribution of the different argillic alteration zones, selected samples were examined for their technological ceramic properties in order to evaluate their use in ceramic production. Preliminary results showed that after beneficiation processes, the clayey raw material from the alteration zones could be used in the ceramic industry
Samples were collected from the argillic alteration zones in Sappes area, Thrace, Northern Greece... more Samples were collected from the argillic alteration zones in Sappes area, Thrace, Northern Greece and were examined for their mineralogical composition. Results showed that the sericite zone is the most widespread type of alteration in the studied area, followed by the transitional sericite–kaolinite zone and finally the pyrophyllite-rich zone. After determination of the spatial distribution of the different argillic alteration zones, selected samples were examined for their technological ceramic properties in order to evaluate their use in ceramic production. Preliminary results showed that after beneficiation processes, the clayey raw material from the alteration zones could be used in the ceramic industry.
The application of cathodoluminescence in Early Helladic Pottery from Helike, Achaea, Greece
In this study, siliceous nodules from the world-famous Myrtos beach, as well as from Avithos beac... more In this study, siliceous nodules from the world-famous Myrtos beach, as well as from Avithos beach, in the western flanks of Kefalonia Island in Greece are examined by means of petrographical, mineralogical, geochemical and micropaleontological methods. The objectives of this study are to characterize the textural and compositional features of the nodules, with the aim to provide an initial interpretation of their origin and their diagenetic evolution. The studied siliceous nodules are hosted within Lower Cretaceous thin-bedded limestones at Myrtos and Upper Eocene limestones at Avithos. Nodules from both areas display a characteristic concentric texture at a macroscopic and microscopic scale. They both have a dense fine-grained siliceous sedimentary fabric, composed mainly of microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz and moganite with common residual calcite in the case of Avithos. These results, and in particular the shape of the nodules, along the textural and compositional characteristics, indicate different conditions of formation in the two localities, both during the early epigenetic stages, as well as later during the diagenetic processes. Myrtos nodules originated from Si-precursors deposited in a pelagic environment, going through intense Si-replacement. Avithos nodules were deposited in a more proximal environment, being influenced by a less intense silicification. Nevertheless, the higher degree of recrystallization of Avithos samples indicates a syn-or post-diagenetic tectonic activity that resulted in the circulation of geothermal fluids. The conclusions drawn from this work demonstrate the usefulness of thorough studies of siliceous nodules in order to get a more comprehensive understanding of the initial depositional conditions, as well as diagenetic pathways and processes.
Characterization and provenance of ceramic artifacts and local clays from Late Mycenaean Kastrouli (Greece) by means of p-XRF screening and statistical analysis
A ceramic assemblage selected from a recently excavated Late Helladic settlement at Kastrouli (Ce... more A ceramic assemblage selected from a recently excavated Late Helladic settlement at Kastrouli (Central Greece) has been chemically analyzed and statistically elaborated, to add new information and contribution to the Mycenaean culture in the wider studied area. The chemical composition of 142 ceramic sherds represented by wide range of household typologies was measured by using a calibrated non-destructive portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) setup. Fired briquettes prepared from 8 local clay sources and several mixtures of them were similarly analyzed. A robust statistical analysis is applied based on 15 major and minor/trace elements employing hierarchical cluster analysis with several linkages, descriptive statistics , biplots and boxplots, principal component analysis (PCA), as well as, Euclidean and Mahalanobis distances on standardized ratio transformed data. The chemical characterization and the statistical evaluation were coupled by petrographic analysis. The results obtained r...
The sustainable use of agricultural, industrial and human waste products as raw materials in the ... more The sustainable use of agricultural, industrial and human waste products as raw materials in the construction industry has been extensively investigated. This study aimed to conceive an innovative concrete composition mainly using recycled materials, which, as a result as waste from human activities and natural organic growth, such as animal bones and human hair, will be used in different mixtures in order to prepare concrete specimens. More specifically, the effect of these materials upon the final concrete strength was investigated, as well as how their petrographic characteristics may influence the durability of concrete specimens. Special emphasis was placed on the effect of the artificial increase in bone and hair microroughness and how these can improve the mechanical strength of the final product. The research results point towards the fact that the percentage of the replacement of natural aggregate rocks by animal bones tends to be enhanced by the increase in their microroughness using quartz primer. In addition, the use of bones with increased artificial microroughness and a certain percentage of human hair with increased microtopography seems to be the ideal mixture for the replacement of natural aggregates for the production of normal concrete.
A petrographic assessment of houseware and storage pithoi in the Early Helladic settlement of Helike, Achaia, Greece
The Achaea and Corinth regions of the northern Peloponnese are renowned for their rich archaeolog... more The Achaea and Corinth regions of the northern Peloponnese are renowned for their rich archaeological record. Achaea is part of mainland Greece in the NorthWestern Peloponnese, whereas Corinth is in the NorthEastern Peloponnese. Since ancient times, ceramic production has played an important role in the local and regional social and economic evolution in both regions. Our aim is to identify and evaluate sources of clayey raw materials outcropping in the territory of the northern Peloponnese, potentially used for ceramic production during antiquity, by means of their compositional and technological properties. This was accomplished by the systematic sampling of clayey raw materials from a wide area spanning the Northern Peloponnese. In spite of the interregional chemical homogeneity recorded in their geochemical analysis in terms of major, minor, and trace elements, the data obtained led to their intra-regional compositional distinction into calcareous, calcareous-dolomitic, and siliceous clayey sediments. In addition, the presence of the clay minerals (illite, chlorite, smectite, mixed phases), their granulometry, and their bulk mineralogy all proved to considerably influence some of their performance characteristics, such as their plasticity. After a full characterization of the studied material, the clay deposits in all areas did not show significant differentiations, but they did need improvement to be suitable for the production of ceramic artifacts.
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Papers by Vayia Xanthopoulou
Late Mycenaean (Late Helladic III) settlement of Kastrouli, at Desfina near Delphi, Central Greece
using various analytical techniques. Kastrouli is located in a strategic position supervising the
Mesokampos plateau and the entire peninsula and is related to other nearby coeval settlements. In
total 40 ceramic sherds and 8 clay raw materials were analyzed through mineralogical, petrographic
and microstructural techniques. Experimental briquettes (DS) made from clayey raw materials
collected in the vicinity of Kastrouli, were fired under temperatures (900 and 1050 C) in oxidizing
conditions for comparison with the ancient ceramics. The petrographic analysis performed on thin
sections prepared from the sherds has permitted the identification of six main fabric groups and a
couple of loners. The aplastic inclusions recognized in all fabric groups but one confirmed the local
provenance since they are related to the local geology. Fresh fractures of representative sherds were
further examined under a scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDS) helping us to classify them into
calcareous (CaO > 6%) and non-calcareous (CaO < 6%) samples (low and high calcium was noted in
earlier pXRF data). Here, the ceramic sherds with broad calcium separation are explored on a one-toone
comparison on the basis of detailed mineralogical microstructure. Moreover, their microstructure
was studied, aiming to estimate their vitrification stage. The mineralogy of all studied samples was
determined by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), permitting us to test the validity of the
firing temperatures revealed by the SEM analysis. The results obtained through the various analytical
techniques employed are jointly assessed in order to reveal potters’ technological choices