Le analisi Micropaleontologiche.

The results of the micropaleontological analyses have been included in previous chapters, however the importance of these data suggests that they warrant a separate discussion. Firstly, the contribution of micropaleontology is often overlooked and it is our intention to demonstrate the great potential this method of analysis offers to the field of archaeometry. The identification of micropaleontological remains in soils and in artefacts has enabled us to better characterise the composition of materials and has indicated different areas of provenance for raw materials. Among the stone materials analyzed, there are exclusively Benthic forms (Foraminifers, Echinoids, Brizoids and Algae), which are comparable to the sandstone BOr 2, which was studied as a comparison. Mortars, plasters, bricks, Beltrán IIB and Dressel 7/11 type amphorae produced at Thamusida contain rare Foraminifer plankton and sporadic Benthos. The amphorae which were most likely imported have a notable quantity of plankton and benthic foraminifers, which are present in one stone type in primary sedimentary deposit, the marine clays of the deepest waters.