This dataset includes the microstructural data obtained by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) examination on sugar pots retrieved in Sicily from 11th-16th cent. AD contexts. These data were collected as part of the project “SPotEU: Sugar Pot manufacture in Western Europe in the medieval and post-medieval period (11th -16th centuries AD)”, funded under the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/797242).

SEM observations were performed on fresh cross-section fractures passing through the oro-aboral axis of the body wall in order to observe the microstructure. Bulk specimens were fixed on metal specimen stubs using silicone adhesive and the non-conductive ceramic specimens were made conductive. Colloidal silver paint was applied on excess silicone adhesive and lateral sides of ceramic bulk specimen. Then, the specimen surface was coated with a thin carbon film (~ 10 nm) by vacuum evaporation. The observations were made by using a FEI QUANTA 200 coupled with a microanalizer EDS: Thermo Ultradry – Pathfinder and photomicrograph taken at x1000, x2000 and x4000. The observations were performed using an acceleration voltage of 20 kV and a working distance of 10 mm. In a few cases, a JEOL J6510 coupled with an EDS Oxford Instruments Ultim Max – AZTecLive was used.

The photomicrographs show the micromorphology of the pots, where the vitrification stages could be identified. The photomicrographs were taken at the bottom margin, core and the top margin of the ceramic section. Microstructures are described and discussed in: Mentesana R., Hein A., Madrid i Fernàndez M., Kilikoglou V., Buxeda i Garrigòs J. 2022. “Think globally, act locally: global requirements and local transformation in sugar pots manufacture in Sicily in the medieval and post-medieval periods”. Minerals. At the bottom of the photomicrographs, the image detection method (det), the accelerating voltage (HV), the working distance (WD), the magnification (mag) parameters and the scalebar could be found. Photomicrographs were taken at the CCiTUB of the Universitat de Barcelona.

The dataset also includes a file with a description of the charactersitics of each sample.