Evidence of continuous pottery production during the late Byzantine period in the Studenica Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

A comprehensive analysis of pottery shards from the Studenica Monastery, Serbiareveals continuous production during the late Byzantine period (13th to 15th century). Using advanced techniques like spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, researchers found no significant differences in mineralogical or chemical composition between samples from two distinct cultural strata, indicating sustained craftsmanship. The pottery was made from non-calcareous clay, glazed with lead-based coatings, and colored with copper and iron, fired at temperatures ranging from 600–700 °C for cookware to 800–1000 °C for tableware. A clay rod with glaze traces, likely from a kiln, further supports the site's role in pottery production during this period.

Stojanović, S., Bikić, V., Miličić, L., Evans, I. R., Scarlett, N. V. Y., Brand, H. E. A., & Damjanović-Vasilić, L. (2019). Evidence of continuous pottery production during the late Byzantine period in the Studenica Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Microchemical Journal, 146, 557–567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2019.01.056