Describes the results of the application of a thermal characterization technique, Digital Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), for rapidly obtaining a rough upper estimate of the firing temperature of archaeological pottery as well as an indication of its composition. The technique involves heating a small sample (10-20 mg) of ground ceramic above the vitrification temperature, cooling and reheating. The curves of the two heating cycles are then compared. The validity of this technique was evaluated by a blind test in which 35 tiles fired at different temperatures were analyzed without knowing their firing point, and by analysis of archaeological pottery samples assumed to be local or imported based upon stylistic criteria. The authors point out that this type of analysis is relatively fast, inexpensive, and minimally destructive, and sample preparation is easy compared to acid digestion and other complex techniques. -- ICCROM