A study of fingerprint impressions and the manufacturing process used for the production of Punic-Roman pottery excavated from Tas-Silġ, Malta

Abstract

This research is an attempt to interpret what fingerprint impressions found on the surface of ceramic ware, excavated from a midden dating to the Late Punic/Early Roman period at Tas-Silġ Sanctuary, can tell us about the potters and/or their assistants who were involved in their manufacture, as well as to identify what manufacturing methods and techniques were adopted in the production of the pottery. Although an abundance of pottery sherds dating to the Punic-Roman period at the Tas-Silġ site has been unearthed, archaeological evidence of a local potter’s workshop remains elusive. The study was based on two random samples selected from a multitude of pottery sherds that were excavated from a number of middens discovered at the site between 1996 and 2005. Fingerprint impressions can potentially unlock details about the individuals who handled the semi-processed clay objects, such as their age bracket, their sex, and health. The pottery sherds can also provide us with details about the manufacture process, such as: the quality of production; the level of care shown during production; and the level of craftsmanship and artistry. Inscriptions incised on the pottery also provide us with an insight on their language and spiritual beliefs. The outcome of the study was that although a number of fingerprint impressions were identified, they lacked sufficient ridge clarity, and were too small in number to have been sufficient for statistical analysis which could have enabled us to be conclusive about any findings with any reasonable level of confidence. Any future research on the analysis of fingerprints would necessarily need to be based on a much larger sample size in view of the poor surface conditions of the pottery sherds and the lack of clear fingerprints.