In the study, chemical compositions of 48 fragments of ancient ceramics excavated in 4 archaeological kiln sites which were located in 3 cities (Hangzhou, Cixi and Longquan in Zhejiang Province, China) have been examined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. Then the method of SOM was introduced into the clustering analysis based on the major and minor element compositions of the bodies, the results manifested that 48 samples could be perfectly distributed into 3 locations, Hangzhou, Cixi and Longquan. Because the major and minor element compositions of two Royal Kilns were similar to each other, the classification accuracy over them was merely 76.92%. In view of this, the authors have made a SOM clustering analysis again based on the trace element compositions of the bodies, the classification accuracy rose to 84.61%. These results indicated that discrepancies in the trace element compositions of the bodies of the ancient ceramics excavated in two Royal Kiln sites were more distinct than those in the major and minor element compositions, which was in accordance with the fact. We argued that SOM could be employed in the clustering analysis of ancient ceramics. In the study, chemical compositions of 48 fragments of ancient ceramics excavated in 4 archaeological kiln sites which were located in 3 cities (Hangzhou, Cixi and Longquan in Zhejiang Province, China) have been examined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. Then the method of SOM was introduced into the clustering analysis based on the major and minor element compositions of the bodies, the results manifested that 48 samples could be perfectly distributed into 3 locations, Hangzhou, Cixi and Longquan. Because the major and minor element compositions of two Royal Kilns were similar to each other, the classification accuracy over them was merely 76.92%. In view of this, the authors have made a SOM clustering analysis again based on the trace element compositions of the bodies, the classification accuracy rose to 84.61%. These results indicated that discrepancies in the trace element compositions of the bodies of the ancient ceramics excavated in two Royal Kiln sites were more distinct than those in the major and minor element compositions, which was in accordance with the fact. We argued that SOM could be employed in the clustering analysis of ancient ceramics.