Archaeometric investigations of the tableware cargo of the Kavalliani shipwreck (Greece) and into the role of the harbour of Chalcis in the Byzantine and Frankish periods

In the medieval Eastern Mediterranean, shipwreck finds point out a remarkable pottery production, which constitutes most of the known cargoes of table wares. These wares are also found in sites all around the Mediterranean in 12th and 13th century CE contexts, and may be seen in museums all around the world. Their origin was still the subject of much speculation, as it corresponds to a main hub in trade networks. We show here that it can be identified to Chalcis, the harbour of wealthy Byzantine Thebes, and later on an important Venetian port of call in the Aegean under the name of Negroponte. Our results are based on the comparison of the chemical composition of samples from the Kavalliani shipwreck, which carried a cargo of these wares and sunk while leaving the Chalcis area, to the reference group of Chalcis. Using chemical analysis, Chalcis (Greece) was shown to be the origin of the tableware cargo of the Kavalliani ship, and presumably of most of the tableware cargoes known for the medieval period in the region (Photo Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, Athens; Fig. S.Y. Waksman). [Display omitted] •The origin of the Kavalliani shipwreck tableware cargo is investigated.•Chemical analysis is used in combination with mineralogical analysis.•The origin of the cargo is identified is spite of alteration of pottery in sea water.•The proposed origin of the tableware cargo is Chalcis (Greece).•The harbour of Chalcis is shown to be a main medieval maritime hub.