Residues in Medieval Pottery from Basel

Archaeometric investigations started in the Basel Geochemical Laboratory (Institute for Mineralogy and Petrography MPI, Department of Earth-Sciences, Basel University) in 1969 when colours of early prints and incunabulae were analysed chemically and mineralogically.

The present study concerns residues in medieval pottery which was excavated by the Archäologische Bodenforschung in Basel. One group of residues consists of a greyish layer on the inside of cooking pots from the 13th to 15th century (St. Alban-Vorstadt 30/32); the other group consists of an enamel like covering on ceramic vessels dated to the late 15th century from St. Alban-Vorstadt 28 in Basel.