The message from this study is clear. p-XRF's role in characterising coarse wares such as Impasto and Cooking wares begins after their fabrics have been defined, either macroscopically or petrographically, p-XRF's considerable attributes then come into play providing in the field rapid analyses of the cut (sawn) surface of large numbers of sherds; this can be viewed as a 'screening' procedure generating chemical **data** which is scrutinised in the light of the fabric classification to make useful, if broadly based statements about identity, for instance precisely those elucidated in this studyvolcanic vs. non-volcanic or local vs. non-local. The chemical classification should not be expected to be amenable to a more detailed level of interpretation, paralleling the outcome of the other p-XRF  investigation at San Vincenzo on soils from different excavated contexts (Di Renzoni, et al., 2016). For sure, there is room for the analytical protocol to be refined beyond that described in the present study in order to improve accuracy, to allow additional elements to be included in the **data** set and to calibrate with respect to the corresponding **data** obtained by destructive analysis such as benchtop WDXRF (Jones & Campbell, in press). We suggest that p-XRF should not be habitually compared to ICP/NAA and repeatedly be found wanting in its inability to cover all elements and /or display equivalent levels of accuracy for all elements. At the same time p-XRF should not develop a 'scatter gun' reputation, generating one-off **data** which cannot be reused or can only be used for internalin-house -purposes. It is time to look boldly at its greatest attribute, that is, that of non-destructive, in situ, analysis aimed at analysing large quantities of sherds; equally important is our ability to formulate appropriate questions that it can answer, satisfactorily and conclusively. In the case of impasto ware there is already a good understanding of the origin and production of these wares; so the need now is to process large quantities of newly excavated material, and to assess whether they are imported or not. This study has shown that this type of assessment (local vs non local) is indeed feasible and effective. Coarse wares are amongst the most common fabrics found in many archaeological sites so the implication of the results of this study goes beyond the remit of our work on Stromboli.  
