AbstractA program of ceramic analysis, by which archaeologically excavated pottery can be efficiently and economically grouped by fabric and geographic origin, has been devised. the fabric is segregated by xeroradiography, macroscopic observation, and heavy‐mineral analysis before it is identified petrologically. the program has enabled determination of the effects of certain aspects of trade patterns and economics on life in the ancient city of Roman‐Period Caesarea Maritima. This program was tested on an 84‐sherd corpus of Pompeian Red Ware. Xeroradiography, heavy‐mineral analysis, and petrology each segregated the sherds into two fabrics, one of which contained 83 sherds. This latter fabric had not been reported in earlier studies of Pompeian Red Ware which concentrated on samples from England and Europe. However, the similarities between this new fabric and another known fabric suggest that the Caecuban and Falernian regions west of Terracina and east of Capua should be the source of this ware. an astonishing result was that other known fabrics were not found at Caesarea Maritima. A potential chronological hypothesis was formulated to account for this obse
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