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A new research project in Israel is using advanced scientific methods to answer one of archaeology’s most persistent questions: what were the origins of ancient pottery? The initiative is led by the Israel Antiquities Authority and aims to identify the production origins of ceramic vessels uncovered at excavation sites across the country.
Archaeologists often find large quantities of pottery, but the kilns where the vessels were fired have usually disappeared. This gap has long limited researchers’ ability to trace ancient manufacturing and trade.
Thousands of vessels to be analyzed nationwide
According to a recent announcement by the Israel Antiquities Authority, thousands of pottery vessels will now undergo detailed scientific examination. The work is part of a joint research project led by Dr. Anat Cohen Weinberger of the authority and Prof. Alexander Fantalkin of Tel Aviv University.
The ceramics come from excavation sites across Israel and span multiple historical periods. Researchers say the large sample size will allow them to build a comprehensive picture of pottery production and distribution across the region.
Missing kilns pose a long-standing challenge
In most excavations, large quantities of pottery are uncovered, but the kiln where it was produced is missing, Cohen Weinberger explained.
She explained that without the kiln, archaeologists often struggle to determine whether vessels were made locally or brought in from other areas. She described this uncertainty as one of the central challenges in pottery research, limiting how clearly scholars can reconstruct ancient trade systems and economic organization.
Israeli researchers are using advanced chemical and mineral analysis to trace where ancient pottery was made. The national project aims to map kiln “fingerprints” to reveal trade networks and cultural links in antiquity. pic.twitter.com/EVzv208u9o
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) January 13, 2026
Creating a scientific fingerprint for ancient workshops
To address the problem, researchers are working to create a unique scientific “fingerprint” for each known pottery workshop. The fingerprints are based on the mineral and chemical composition of vessels whose production sites are already known.
Organizers said the long-term goal is to establish a national database containing what they described as the “genetic sequencing” of ancient kilns. Once built, the system would allow researchers to propose a vessel’s origin even when no kiln is present at the excavation site.
Petrography reveals raw materials and production choices
One of the key methods being used is petrography. In this technique, researchers cut an ultra-thin slice of ceramic, about 30 microns thick, and examine it under a polarizing microscope.
The analysis allows scientists to identify minerals and tiny rock fragments within the pottery. According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, this information helps link the clay to its geological source and sheds light on how potters prepared their materials, sometimes described as the potter’s “recipe.”
Nuclear testing identifies chemical signatures
The second method is neutron activation analysis, or NAA. This process involves placing a small ceramic sample inside a nuclear reactor, where it is exposed to neutrons.
The exposure allows scientists to measure the vessel’s elemental composition, including rare trace elements that serve as chemical markers. Researchers then compare the results with pottery samples from known production centers to propose where an unknown vessel was made.
Combined methods build a reference system
By combining petrography and chemical analysis, researchers can create a detailed profile for each kiln. These profiles can later be used as reference points for pottery found at sites without kilns.
If a match is identified, experts can propose where the vessel was produced, even if it was discovered far from its original workshop.
Cohen Weinberger said many pottery samples analyzed in earlier studies could not be linked to a production origin because comparative data was lacking. She said the new kiln profiles are expected to help close that gap.
Digital kiln atlas planned as long-term research tool
The initiative is being developed as a wide-scale national project. As part of the effort, the Israel Antiquities Authority is creating a digital “kiln atlas” to consolidate the accumulated data.
The atlas will be made available through a platform developed by the authority’s digital technologies division. Officials said it is intended to serve as a long-term research infrastructure for studying ancient production systems, trade networks, and regional connections.
External experts praise the project’s scope
Dr. Mechael Osband, head of the Petrography Laboratory at the Zinman Institute at the University of Haifa, described the project as highly significant. He is not involved in the research.
“This is a unique project with no parallel in other regions,” Osband said. “It will provide an infrastructure for many studies dealing with different periods and will make a significant contribution to understanding economic and social connections in antiquity.”
