Abstract
Samian ware (or terra sigillata) is a type of fired-clay ceramic produced at a number of sites in France in the period 50 BC to 200 AD and widely traded in Western Europe. It has a characteristic high-gloss surface, formed by application of a non-calcareous clay slip to the green body before firing. New SEM observations show that the slip layer is frequently crazed, although the cracks are not usually visible to the unaided eye. We discuss the mechanics of the crazing, and show that the cracking is driven by rehydroxylation (RHX) moisture expansion. Observations and analysis aid in understanding the RHX dating of archaeological pottery by showing that craze networks permit efficient transport of moisture through the slip layer.
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