Interaction and exchange in Iron Age western Sicily: Neutron activation analysis of indigenous painted tablewares

This research analyzes indigenous ceramics using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) to examine exchange patterns during Iron Age western Sicilian society. This INAA and stylistic comparative study examines indigenous painted wares from: (1) Entella, (2) Montagnoli, (3) Monte Polizzo, (4) Salemi, (5) Segesta, (6) Selinunte. My results indicate that indigenous painted wares in western Sicily were hybridized for three reasons. First, my research shows that the number of locations of production remains the same from incised/impressed to painted wares; therefore, there is neither an increase nor a decrease in manufacture, which are the characteristics for a hybridized culture. Second, my research reveals that the distribution of ceramics does change slightly between the east and west settlements. There is continued interaction between Salemi and Monte Polizzo and Salemi and Montagnoli. In addition to Montagnoli there is an additional exchange with Selinunte among the painted wares. The rest of the trade remains between east or west settlements as separate regions. The reason behind this change is the increase in colonial influence complemented with continued cultural resistance, which has been termed "hybridization." Third, the production locations remain the same during the shift from incised to painted wares. The manufacture locations of painted wares neither exclusively specifies a process of Hellenization nor cultural resistance, as they have been defined. Instead the number of production centers indicates hybridization because hybridity is defined by the maintenance of production centers through time. For these three reasons, the Elymi were being hybridized in the 6 th through 5th centuries.