Poteries grises médiévales produites à Saint-Gilles du Gard

Abstract

The important documentation about ceramics, obtained from the medieval potiers ovens at Saint-Gilles du Gard, has made it possible to characterize the various productions ofthis workshop, and to set afirst typology. Besides the «pegau », representing the majority, coexist less known new shapes in grey ceramic, in particular, pots with horizontal handles on the side, open shapes and various jugs. This production presents a low-rhodanian aspect, and dates from the end of the XIVth century, as the typologie data and the archaeomagnetic investigation demonstrate. The wide persistence of burning in reducing atmosphere in the Eastern Languedoc in this period, is thus proved. The use of several clay types within the same workshop, suggested by the external observation and proved by the laboratory analysis, tells us how a workshop functioned. Above ail, it incites the archaeologist, who undertakes some investigations about the places oforigin offinished items, to be extremely careful when interpreting the observed groups.