Characterization of 15th-16th century majolica pottery found on the canary islands

To assess the provenance of majolica pottery found in the Canary Islands, a sample of 55 sherds was obtained from two sites on Gran Canaria Island: La Cueva Pintada (Galdar) and El Antiguo Convento de San Francisco (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria). The pottery was studied by X-ray fluorescence, instrumental neutron activation analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The results show one group that matches a reference group from Seville, an assessment that supports the historical record. However, the data also reveal samples whose provenance corresponds to other production centers on the Iberian Peninsula, such as Manises, Barcelona, and, possibly, an unknown Portuguese center. Moreover, it is possible that Italian and Dutch pottery have been identified thereby providing a complexity factor to the historical accounts.