A quantitative approach to decoding pottery technology: Confocal microscopy applied to the traceological and textural analysis of surface treatment

Among the various phases of pottery production and use that can be examined through traceological analysis, surface treatment remains one of the least explored. Understanding certain phases of past production processes through material remains often necessitates the establishment of reference frameworks that facilitate the identification and characterization of the actions responsible for their formation. In this context, experimental archaeology provides a means to reconstruct the relationships between the archaeological record and past technological practices. This study proposes an experimental program focused on the surface treatment of pottery and the tools employed in these processes, with a primary emphasis on the categories of tools utilized in the production of prehistoric handmade ceramics. The central hypothesis posits that distinct tools generate distinguishable surface traces. To systematically document and characterize the traces produced by various tool types—including pebbles, flint spatulas, pottery spatulas, shell spatulas, linen rags, grass, and leather—a comprehensive catalogue has been compiled. This catalogue integrates visual documentation with qualitative data on surface traces and overall appearance. Additionally, confocal microscopy was tested as a means to quantitatively assess the visual differences observed between distinct surface treatments. The findings indicate that confocal microscopy is both a precise and accessible technique for measuring surface microtexture. The results underscore the methodological potential for traceological and textural analysis of ceramic surface treatments. The ability to differentiate between various surface treatment techniques offers new avenues for the study of prehistoric pottery, enhancing our understanding of ancient ceramic production practices.