From the Dürrnberg near Hallein in Austria, a series of ceramics from the Latène and Hallstatt period was examined by means of thin sections. Several groups could be distinguished by properties such as porosity and grain size. A high amount of fossil echini stings proved that the clay used for the pottery is a weathered limestone from the surrounding mountains. Ceramics which were imported from other regions could be distinguished from the ceramics of the Dürrnberg because of the characteristic mineralogical features. J.R. -- AATA