This paper analyses the physico-chemical characterization approaches carried out in Spain on archaeological ceramic materials from the publication of the first analytical studies in 1972 to the present. The number of studies according to their chronological subject, the analytical techniques more often used, the amount of ceramic material analyzed as well as the support chosen for the publication have been established by means of quantitative criteria among other aspects. Results provide the possibility to know in a precise way the characteristics, evolution and development of these kind of archaeometric approaches and exploring their true significance in current Spanish archaeological research.