About the Acta The Society's journal has been published, generally at two-year intervals, since 1958. The papers included have mostly (but not exclusively) been those presented at the corresponding congresses. It has grown from 37 pages in A5 format for the first volume, to 619 pages of A4 size in 2020; its scope includes all types of ceramic material (excluding building material) attributable to the Roman period or immediately before, and all parts of the world where Roman pottery has been found. It thus constitutes an important resource for this field of study. For author guidelines and details of how to submit a paper, see the associated page Submissions. Accepted languages are English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Papers are peer-reviewed prior to acceptance. The journal is now published simultaneously in print and in digital form. Earlier volumes are also in the process of being digitized. About Fautores The RCRF is an international learned society specialising in the field of Roman pottery. Its main aim is to establish contact between scholars of different countries and the field of interest is interpreted in its widest sense. The Society was jointly founded in 1957 by Howard Comfort (1904-1993) and Elisabeth Ettlinger (1915-2012), and now has over two hundred and fifty individual members in some twenty-five different countries. Libraries and institutions may also become affiliated members, and there are currently nearly one hundred of these who receive our publications and notice of our activities. Congresses are held every two years, in different countries and at the invitation of members who offer to host them. It is not, however, necessary to become a member of the RCRF in order to participate. Papers are generally presented in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish and may be published (subject to peer review) in the Acta.
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El Proyecto corpus vasorum Hispanorum: principales resultados
The results of a research project focused on the analysis of precocturam epigraphic marks on Hispanic terra sigillata located in the Lusitania province are presented. This study was based on an exhaustive compilation of data both from museums and archaeological sites, giving priority to those that had contextual data. To manage the data, an online and open real-time database was developed. This platform had a specific template for each of the pieces containing morphological, contextual, chronological data and graphic documentation. Additionally, this project included an analytical component, using archaeometric methods that helped to confirm some production centers in the region. As a result, this study has contributed to redefining the commercial, epigraphic and anthroponymic landscape of a production on a topic, that of the sigilla, an area that had not been extensively evaluated previously.
New data from the Cartuja kiln complex (Grandada, Spain). Kiln Beiro 7
Partially excavated by Manuel Sotomayor in the second half of the 1960s, Kiln 7 in the Beiro Sector was re-excavated during the most recent interventions at the site. This latest archaeological study has provided new data on the kiln construction process, its structure and its phases of use and abandonment. In this work, a typological and functional analysis of it is proposed. There is also an intense search for other parallels that help clarify this interesting structure. Based on the information compiled over the years, a proposal for the reconstruction of the pyrostructure has also been made.
The Chronology of the Southeast Sector of Baelo Forum, Tarifa, Spain: a methodological approach
Between 2009 and 2011, collaboration between a Spanish and a French team led to the excavation of an area of 500 m2 near the Baelo Claudia forum in Tarifa, Andalucia. The excavation yielded a significant pottery assemblage of 83,875 sherds (MNI 6,878), meticulously categorized by fabric and type. Using a methodology based on stratigraphy and assemblage similarity, we initially focused on our excavation data before extending our study to include pottery assemblages from the broader southern Iberian Peninsula. Subsequently, three seriations allowing the comparison of terra sigillata from Baelo with regional and empire-wide samples enabled the transition from a relative to an absolute chronology, incorporating independent dating criteria such as coins and historical documents.
Lusitana 3 amphora in Lusitania: resampling the commerce and consumption of Lusitanian wine production
Although they have been characterized for decades, there is still lack of knowledge about the relevance of the Lusitana 3 type in the Lusitanian wine trade. A recent study of the amphorae of Olisipo (Lisbon), where Lusitana 3 are dominant among the wine containers, has highlighted the great development of wine production in the Tagus Valley during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. At the same time, the importance of this amphora type, with evident Gaulish influences, is noticeable in the wine trade of the province. However, this relevance is less recognizable throughout the remaining territory of Lusitania. The present study, which is based on the analysis of amphorae assemblages from several consumption sites in Lusitania, focuses on the Lusitanian wine trade and highlights the importance of the Lusitana 3 amphora in this context.
The Roman villa of Cardílio (Torres Novas, Portugal) in the Mediterranean trade:
Located in the Tagus Valley, the Roman villa of Cardílio was positioned during Roman times on a border space between the territories of the civitates of Scallabis (Santarém) and Seilium (Tomar) and between the mountains and the plains. The proximity to the XVI road of Antonino's itinerary and to the Almonda and Tagus rivers provided it with contact to the coast, namely with Olisipo (Lisbon), enabling its connection to the regional commercial networks and the acquisition of products from distant geographies. The aim of this study is precisely to present the assemblage of amphorae imported from the various regions of the Mediterranean and the main trends and consumption patterns in the villa between the 1st and 4th/5th centuries AD.
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Ceramic contexts of the occidental necropolis in Troia (Portugal)
The recent excavation of an area lying northwest of the so-called Mensa-Tomb Necropolis (excavated in the 1970s) at the site of Troia revealed the continuation of the same funerary area, the whole cemetery having been recently renamed as Occidental Necropolis. Similar rectangular and sigma-shaped mensa tombs were exposed, but heavy disturbance caused by several interventions in the relatively recent past also revealed earlier phases of the necropolis. Relative stratigraphy and tomb type allowed the grouping of some 60 tombs into four main phases. The ceramics collected in the recent excavation of the necropolis (2021), and especially the sigillata and the amphorae, indicate funerary activity running from the 2nd century until the second half of the 4th century AD.
Djilma – an important ARS production centre in central Tunisia. An assessment of late Antique forms and stamped decoration, fabric and chemical analyses by WD-XRF
Djilma is one of the two most important production centres of African red slip ware vessel forms and lamps in central Tunisia. It produced African red slip ware (ARS) and lamps from the early 3rd century to the mid-5th century in a characteristic fabric (Atlante 1981: fabric E). Long-distance trade to the eastern and western Mediterranean distributed the standard vessel forms of ARS. They can be identified at the Athenian Agora as well. The range of late Antique forms and typical stamped decoration (Hayes style B) from a survey at Henchir el Guellal near Djilma in 1991 is decisively supplementing the preliminary results of the British-Tunisian survey carried out in 1984/85. Additionally, a specific reference group of chemical analyses by WD-XRF of ARS and lamps from Djilma carried out by G. Schneider (Berlin) and M. Daszkiewicz (Warszawa) is presented.
Les ateliers de céramique de la Byzacène du Sud-Ouest, nouvelles découvertes
Our recent investigations in the Southwest of Byzacena have allowed us to uncover two new production centers: Ain er-Rchiha and Sidi Abdelkader. They have also given us the opportunity to advance irrefutable archaeological evidence of a production of African Red Slip Ware at Henchir en-Nadhour (Majoura). The latter reveals a major discovery: this workshop is the one and only center hitherto identified producing the C/E and E categories that have remained, until now, geographically unlocated. Moreover, these discoveries have revealed, in addition to the trading areas, a true spatial and categorical distribution of ceramic workshops in this region.
Pottery Manufacture at Hellenistic to Late Roman Koroneia (Boeotia, Greece)
Ancient Koroneia (Boeotia, central Greece) was the last site surveyed by the Ancient Cities of Boeotia Project, between 2005 and 2011, under the direction of John Bintliff. An abundance of artefacts was collected that attests local pottery manufacture during the Hellenistic to Late Roman periods. This paper preliminarily presents this evidence. Manufacture began in the (Early) Hellenistic period, and is best represented by fragments of moulds for the manufacture of mouldmade (Megarian) relief bowls and misfired fragments of such vessels. The evidence is however richest for the Early to Late Roman periods. Wasters represent a broad functional range, especially open tablewares and smaller closed vessels. Of interest are fragments of kiln wall, found in an area where geophysical research picked up an anomaly, possibly a pottery kiln. The paper concludes with a first attempt to contextualise these finds in a Boeotian and wider framework of stylistic traditions and ceramic exchange.
The Late Roman settlement at Ysterni on the island of Paros and the Parian production of ‘Aegean’ type lamps - Preliminary results
This paper presents the first results of our research concerning the excavations of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades at the site of Ysterni on the island of Paros (Greece). These excavations revealed a settlement of the Late Antique period with three kilns, an oil or wine press and many other workshop facilities which produced, among others, lamps. Through this mass production of Parian lamps, the island of Paros emerges as a large and the only, yet, known center of the previously so-called 'Aegean lamp' type, offering important new typological and chronological information.
The religious and administrative stamped amphorae of Late Antiquity
A systematic interest in stamps from the Late Roman/Early Byzantine to Late Byzantine periods has arisen only in the last two decades. This paper concerns a comprehensive presentation of all the Late Roman stamped amphora types and both the religious and administrative stamps they bear. We focus on the stamps with administrative content and meaning, found on LR 1 and LR 13 amphorae. In particular, we will present, as a case study, an overview as well as new information on the production of LR 13 amphorae, which were often double stamped by the state, with a ‘main’ stamp bearing the bust of the emperor and the inscription of the eparch of the islands and a ‘secondary’ stamp which included official inscriptions, monograms and interesting abbreviations, such as the ‘ȣ’ ligature of the ounce (οὐγγία), as we suggest.
Terra sigillata focese da Gortina: dati preliminari dallo scavo dell’Edificio Sud
Phocaean Red Slip Ware constitutes the most widespread fine pottery in Gortina from the late 4th century until the end of production around the mid-7th century. The considerable quantity of this pottery found in the recent excavations of the South Building conducted by the University of Macerata in the area of the Byzantine Houses makes it possible to acquire new data on the circulation of this ceramic class in the Cretan capital and to shed new light on the city's cultural and commercial connections with the neighbouring shore of Asia Minor. In this paper we present preliminary typological data from which there is a clear preponderance of Hayes 3 and 10 dishes in the various known variants. Palm-branches and animal motifs and the usual cross motif are attested among the stamped motifs. The recurrence of the form Hayes 10C in late 7th/early 8th century layers seems to confirm the dating beyond the mid 7th century.
The Roman Agora at Athens Revisited: Pottery Evidence for the Monument’s Construction and the Function of the Area in the post-Sullan Era
The so-called Market of Caesar and Augustus is one of the most prominent monuments of Roman Athens, whose chronology and original date of construction still pose problems. Deep excavation carried out by the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens below the west stoa yielded deposits relating to the foundation of the building complex, including a rich assortment of ceramics of all functional categories from various eastern and western sources. In addition to providing pottery evidence for dating the market’s foundation, the finds contribute new data regarding the function of the area prior to the construction of the Roman Agora and shed light onto the still little-known pottery supply of the city in the post-Sullan and Early Augustan period.
New research on the Leonidaion in Olympia . A group of pottery from a closed context as dating evidence for the Roman Imperial construction phase
Among the secular buildings in Olympia, the Leonidaion was the largest and most magnificent. Erected in the late 4th century BC to the southwest of the Altis, it served as a banqueting house and guesthouse and underwent several alterations until its final destruction in the 3rd century AD. In connection with a new architectural study of the Leonidaion, a series of small trenches was opened to further clarify the building history. The 2018 excavation in the water basin in the southwest corner of the Roman courtyard provided new evidence for fixing the date of the elaborate Roman remodelling. It revealed a characteristic sequence of layers containing destruction debris and a closed deposit of well-preserved ceramic vessels, lamps, and glass. Based on the architectural features, the stratigraphy and the detailed examination of the finds, the Roman remodelling can now be dated securely to the 1st century AD.
Dressel 24 similis amphorae of Roman Imperial period from Erythrai
This study aims to present the locally produced Erythrai Dressel 24 Similis amphorae found during the excavations of the Erythrai 1977-1988 season. During the excavations, many amphora types were found dating from the 5th century BC to the 11th century AD. Dressel 24 Similis amphorae, also known as cup-shaped rims, is one of the most important finds from Erythrai, and is dated from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD. Erythrai Dressel 24 Similis amphora samples were evaluated for similarity with other production centers with their morphology and relative dating periods. Clay in two colors is an important feature of the group, it also shows similarity with Chian examples.
Dump 1004 of the Southern Building in the Byzantine Houses Quarter (Gortyn, Crete). Echoes of local production and regional networks in Gortyn between the 4th and the 8th century AD
This paper provides an overview of the coarse wares from the excavation of the Southern Building of the Byzantine Houses Quarter (Archaeological Mission of the University of Macerata – Excavations of the Italian Archaeological School at Athens). It focuses on the finds from SU 1004, interpreted as an 8th century dump. Some considerations will be made primarily on recurrent pottery types, providing the possibility of examining the early Byzantine and Byzantine production of Gortyn more in-depth. The paper, throughout, highlights connections with regional and Mediterranean networks, especially the Eastern ones.
Cooking and Utilitarian Wares from a Water Crypt in Ancient Messene
During excavations at ancient Messene (Peloponnese) a pottery assemblage was found dumped within a water crypt that constituted part of the sanctuary of Sarapis and Isis and had been used as a refuse pit after the abandonment of the complex following 365 AD. The assemblage comprises only cooking wares and utilitarian closed forms, together with few auxiliary clay objects. Three main fabrics make up the bulk of the ceramics and can be attributed to the local productions. Numerous examples of four main types of cooking pots have been revealed. Considering the deficiencies observed in the manufacture of most of these vessels and the fact that some of them are over-fired, it is argued that what has been excavated from the water crypt constitutes wasters rejected from a kiln-firing event in this particular area. Based on the evidence, this assemblage should be dated within the 5th century AD.
Off the grid: non-imported wares in Late Roman Philippi
This study focuses on Late Roman pottery found in Philippi, Greece, aiming to shed light on local productions, often neglected in favor of imported wares. Despite Philippi's stature as a key urban center, research on its pottery has been sparse. The paper examines the pottery from a composite building in Philippi, revealing a distinct local ware characterized by consistent fabric and numerus vessel types, with several subtypes. The pottery, likely produced in Philippi, or the vicinity, reflects the city's unique needs and preferences. Analysis suggests that the ware flourished in the 5th and 6th centuries before declining in the 7th century. The findings emphasize the necessity of investigating local productions to attain a comprehensive understanding of regional dynamics and the intricacies of Late Roman market and economy.
The Amphorae of Roman Ephesus. A new vision from new evidence and new ideas
In 2013, Tamas Bezeczky published his book “The Amphorae of Roman Ephesus”, presenting for the first time a complete catalogue of the most important amphorae in some interesting Ephesian contexts (mainly in the Tetragonos Agora and in some small contexts from the upper Agora and Terrace Houses). This impressive work should be considered as the basis for all future studies concerning late Hellenistic and Roman Imperial amphorae, not only in Ephesos, but in the whole Aegean region. Even so, the revision of the pottery of some contexts in Ephesos as published by specialists such as Sabine Ladstätter, Alice Waldner and Recep Meriç, combined with the studies of material from new contexts during the last years, have enlarged our knowledge about the forms, quantities and trade connexions of Ephesos during the Roman and Byzantine periods, making it imperative to pose some new hypotheses as a result.
Late tableware has only rarely come to light in Pergamon so far, but this is mostly because of the stratigraphic situation of the excavation areas. To date representative examples of Late Roman C, African Red Slip, Late Roman Light Coloured and Late Relief Ware have been identified. Some fabrics of these wares give reason to assume that such vessels were part of the local production in late Roman Pergamon. The archaeometric analysis was able to prove the fabrication of these wares in Pergamon and additionally in the neighbouring settlement Pitane. Against this background, the export of certain ceramic goods from Pergamon and Pitane can now be verified. On the other hand, only a few late Roman vessels were probably imported to Pergamon. Based on these examinations it can be said that Pergamon was an active member of the pottery production network even in the late Roman period.
New thoughts on ‘dual stamps’ on the LRA 2b-c (LRA 13)
The study presented here examines a group of stamps on the Late Roman Amphorae 2 (LRA 2). In this group (-A.1-), named “dual stamps”, two circular stamps with different contents are found on the same type of amphora. These stamps appear on both the neck and/or the handle(s). The stamps in the first subgroup (-A.1a-) are generally in wider diameter than the other subgroup (-A.1b-) and have a bust with a surrounding line of inscription. Although a standard inscription formula has been known, the examples have some letter and diphthong variations. The second subgroup (-A.1b-) has a ligature and a letter in a standard form. Considering the contents of this group of stamps, the forms of the amphorae, and the destinations of the examples are examined, some conclusions can be drawn about the production characteristics of the amphorae and the function of this group of stamps.
Lamp and terracotta figurine production in the Roman Period at Tarsus-Gözlükule (Turkey)
This article aims to discuss the recent archaeological evidence for pottery production from the Roman period discovered at Tarsus-Gözlükule. 70 years after the publication of H. Goldman’s seminal study of pottery at this site, excavations conducted by teams led by Prof. Özyar (Bögazici University) revealed the presence of a multi-layered production site on the Gözlükule mound; here, investigations revealed two levels of kilns, a clay processing basin, and a work surface made of production waste dated to the Roman Period. The workshop is small, and it was mainly employed to produce lamps (categorised as groups XVI and XVIII in Goldman’s publication) and votive objects. This preliminary presentation of the results of the archaeological research gives an overview of the production and the site dated to the 2nd-3rd centuries AD, which is still being studied and excavated.
Catching the Big Fish – Fish-Sauce Containers from the Republican Era to Late Antiquity in Nea Paphos (Cyprus)
Garum production sites of the Republican Period, as well as multiple kiln workshops of transport amphorae used for carrying fish-sauce, are well attested in Sicily and on the North African coast. New ceramic evidence provided by numerous fragments of transport vessels collected from Late Hellenistic layers of the Agora in Nea Paphos, Cyprus, offers a unique opportunity to elucidate the still understudied period of economic exchange between the two of most important islands of the Mediterranean Sea. Late Hellenistic Tubular Amphorae, one of the most numerous types of central Mediterranean transport vessel imports within the assemblage gathered in Nea Paphos, enable us to trace mutual contact between the heart of the Republican world and Cyprus under Ptolemaic rule at the dawn of Roman economic, political and military dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean. A detailed consideration of the vessels and therefore of the origins of garum, based on comprehensive macro-observation of the gathered material, will be complemented by a typological and chronological discussion.
Coarse ware production in Seleukeia Sidera (Isparta, Turkey) in Roman and late Roman periods
In Seleukeia Sidera, evidence indicating to the local coarse ware production has been obtained during the field surveys and excavations. To identify the scope and scale of the production and to correlate locally produced wares to existing typology, archaeometrical analyses have been done on samples from all coarse ware functional groups including preparing/serving vessels and cooking wares. Moreover, to determine the clay raw materials, analyses also were undertaken on clays collected from two different spots in the close vicinity of the ancient city. Archaeometrical analyses have shown that coarse wares from various functional groups and forms were produced between the 1st century and 7th century AD. Preparing/serving and cooking wares were produced with the clays obtained from an area close to modern Atabey Dam Lake without interruption. In addition, another clay bed in the vicinity of the city was exploited in the Late Roman Period for producing a smaller functional group.
Evaluation of the red-slipped ware of the Tholos Building in Knidos in terms of being locally produced or imported products
The Tholos is situated on the western section of Knidos (IInd Terrace). This study will present the analysis of the red-slipped ware unearthed as a result of the diggings and research on one of the main arteries – the IInd Terrace – and the building of Tholos, located on it. Among the red slip category, the local and imported ware from Phocaia, Cyprus, and Africa will be emphasized, and their clay and slip properties will be detailed. The aim is to establish a relationship between the local pottery and the imported wares through the red-slipped ware of Late Antiquity and to reveal detailed typology and stratigraphic interpretations. While finding answers to the questions sought with the Tholos building pottery, the aim is to clarify the relationship between the original clay used for pottery production and ceramic culture techniques and the use of natural resources.
Idyma Akyaka Castle Roman period imported and regional fine red slipped wares
The ancient city of Idyma was established on the slopes of Küçük Asartepe, located to the north of Kozlukuyu (Gökova) village within the borders of Akyaka district of Muğla province. The name Idyma was listed in the tax records of Attic-Delos Naval Union in 453-452 B.C. The ceramic finds presented here are from the Idyma Castle Excavations (2021-2022) which is located on the Azmak coast of Akyaka. The ceramics mainly come from the cistern system that led to Azmak stream and from main towers and architectural units of the Castle. Although the construction of the Castle is dated to Byzantine Period, the ceramic evidence has proven that settlement in this region dates back to the Roman period. The ceramic research has shown the city has benefited on the maritime trade route between Aegean and Mediterranean from the Archaic period and onwards. This article presents Roman and Late Roman fine ware ceramics as well as regional ware groups.
Local and Roman influences on the pottery of Judea after the destruction of the Second Temple: the case of Shuʽfat near Jerusalem
The period between the two Jewish revolts against the Romans, the Great Jewish revolt against the Romans (66-70 CE) and the Bar–Kokhba Revolt (132-136 CE), was a relatively short period, though an influential one when significant historical and political events left their marks on Jerusalem and Judaea. Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed in 70 CE, and the Jewish religious, cultural, and economic center ceased to exist. The Roman army was stationed in part of the ruins of Jerusalem. Recent excavations at the site of Shuʽfat revealed a Jewish settlement, well dated to the period between the two revolts, that was erected shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem and attests to the recovery of Jewish life in the vicinity of Jerusalem. This article will focus on trends of continuity and change in the pottery from Shuʽfat from the end of the first and early second century CE and will decipher the local and Roman components in the pottery repertoire.
Where East meets West. Mediterranean and northwestern imports in Aguntum, Noricum
Over the last few years several Eastern Mediterranean imports were detected in the Norican town of Aguntum/Dölsach (Austria). These do not only consist of wine amphorae, but also include fine wares and oil lamps from Corinth as well as Eastern Sigillata B (ESB) and cooking wares from the Phokaia Region. The municipium Aguntum functions as an intersection between the northern and the southern provinces; for that reason, we can find Eastern imports as well as imports from the Northern provinces here. A special find assemblage was discovered in a fire horizon in the traders' forum that contains ESB and stamped Samian ware from the production centres in Lezoux and Rheinzabern. This assemblage represents the starting point for the present paper. The diverse spectrum of imported pottery in Aguntum will be examined and set in a wider geographical context.
Late Roman pottery with stamped decoration from Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria)
The article discusses preliminary results from the study of late antique pottery known in the literature as "grey Macedonian terra sigillata”, discovered during archaeological excavations in ancient Serdica, Bulgaria. The investigations show that the leading feature of these vessels – stamped decoration, is found both on vessels of grey and black surface, and on vessels of red colour. At the same time, technological features of vessels without decoration, but made of similar clay and similar surface treatment suggest that they can be grouped into a type of undecorated and decorated tableware, distributed in a large area in the Late Antique prefecture of Illyricum, but mainly in its Eastern part. Preliminary results of interdisciplinary research reveal new details about the production technology. The outlined area of distribution suggests that this ceramic complex is associated with a population engaged in mining and metallurgy, settled in these lands at the beginning of Late Antiquity.
Echoes of an East-West network through the study of pottery imports and local productions from Hadrianopolis (Albania). From Eastern Sigillata to plain and cooking wares
The article provides an overview of pottery productions and imports in Hadrianopolis during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. After a brief introduction to the ceramic context of Hadrianopolis and the current status of research into the site's productive activity including its network, the primary focus will be on imports from the Eastern Mediterranean, specifically Eastern Sigillata B; the focus thereafter will be on what has been termed a regional "sigillata" that shows imitations of sigillata forms, particularly Eastern Sigillata. The study of the cooking wares has also highlighted a particular receptiveness towards Aegean productions: imported specimens from the kitchens of Hadrianopolis can be identified as Aegean Cooking Wares. The presence of these items in Hadrianopolis will be put in relation to local productions, such as plain wares and cooking wares, and regional imports, such as Illyrian cooking ware and a red slip production with a significant repertoire of imitations.
From the Rhone to the Danube: the ceramic production centre at Butovo and its connections with Gaul in light of a rediscovered medallion mould
Trade connections between Moesia Inferior and the Western Roman provinces have long been studied and evaluated, however this was mostly done by taking into account the ready-to-use imported fine wares, oil lamps and amphora-borne commodities. A ceramic mould with a depiction of Cybele riding a lion, discovered at the industrial site underneath the modern village of Butovo (Northern Bulgaria), could help to shed more light on the importation of technical knowledge as well. Locally produced moulds and medallions with nearly identical depictions were found at sites in the Rhone valley (Southeastern France) and it seems very likely that this was also the point of origin for the Moesian find. The aim of this contribution is to assess the Butovo mould in the light of this newly acquired data and in the broader context of the Moesian ceramic centre’s production and chronology, thus looking for further evidence about the foreign influences in its repertoire.
Painted pottery from the Krtine necropolis in Kaštel Sućurac, Croatia
A Roman necropolis dating from the 2nd-5th century was found in the former Salonitan ager, at the Krtine site. Among numerous pottery, a small group of 5 vessels stand out. The colour of the pottery is light yellow, almost white (HUE 10 YR 8/3), while two cups have brown painted geometrical motifs. This is the southernmost find in the Roman province of Dalmatia. It is more often found in sites of the northern parts of Dalmatia (today's northern Bosnia) and in the southern parts of Pannonia and Moesia, both in graves and in settlements, but the workshop remains unknown. A much larger quantity and a possible workshop was found at Cioroia Noa, a site in Dacia. The authors of this paper postulate how it got to Krtine: were they brought from the homeland of the deceased, or are they a sign of trade and a better property status of the deceased?
Byzantine amphoras from the Roman fort of Apsaros (modern Gonio, Georgia)
This paper presents the first study of Byzantine amphoras that were discovered by the Gonio–Apsaros Polish–Georgian Expedition at the Roman fort of Apsaros (modern Gonio, Georgia). Seasons 2018, 2019 and 2020 were particularly rich in Byzantine material as they provided 315 diagnostic fragments of both locally produced and imported transport containers, dated to the late 6th and 7th centuries AD, which form the basis of this study. Pontic imitations of LRA1 (Antonova 5) were the most common amphoras in Apsaros, with Colchian Ch ID form holding the second post. Containers from Sinope and Heracleia Pontica also reached the fortress in significant numbers; contrary, products from the northern or western Black Sea region were hardly attested. Imports outside of the Pontic area appeared in very low quantities, which points to a regionalization of trade and predominance of the local supply of Apsaros during this period.
Terra sigillata from Žuta Lokva (Dalmatia, Croatia)
In this paper, we are studying terra sigillata from the roadside station Žuta Lokva. The site was positioned in the hinterland of the province of Dalmatia. In Roman times, this site was set by a road mentioned in Itinerarium Antonini Augusti Ad Aquileia per Liburniam Sisciam. Today, it is stationed a few meters from a crossroad, Senj-Otočac-Brinje. The presence of the of terra sigillata liscia forms seems consistent with Po Valley decorated production already analysed and published. One 126 terra sigillata Italica liscia shards have been found: 117 Po Valley production and five Arezzo production. The most common forms are cups Consp. 26, 27 and plates Consp. 20.4. Four stamps have been identified, but the only integral stamp is MACER in pl. pedis (Macer, OCK 1079) on a dish bottom of an undetermined shape.
Quantifying large scale analysis and typology of coarse ware from Flavia Solva, Noricum
The authors of this paper are part of the project team “Examining the finds from Flavia Solva” and are responsible for the archiving and the scientific analysis of the coarse ware. Large parts of the city have been excavated by the Universalmuseum Joanneum, starting over 140 years ago. Since February 1, 2021, the previously unexamined find material from the above-mentioned excavations has been prepared and archived in a standardized form. The aim of the project is to fully classify and digitally archive the finds in a database, completely digitize the historical documentation, and to carry out a selective, concise scientific examination followed by the subsequent publication of the results. We give a brief description of the procedures and methods used in the project as well as an overview of the initial results.
Observations on pottery finds from the Eastern Mediterranean in Viminacium (Serbia): the Camulodunum 189 amphorae
This paper presents the find of amphorae of the type Camulodunum 189, discovered during recent research activities conducted around the castrum, in Viminacium. New examples of this form of amphorae have supplemented the knowledge of their presence in this part of the empire and indicated considerably more developed trade connections between distant provinces within the empire. Archaeological units in which pieces of amphorae, as well as a whole one, were discovered were dated into the period of the founding of the legionary camp, in the final decades of the 1st and the 2nd century.
Hispanic amphorae along Illyria and Epirus. Preliminary report
The presence of western goods and containers, often attested by only a few units, indicates that this area was part of the trade networks that linked the western and eastern Mediterranean. Notably, the Ionian-Adriatic basin was a major market for Hispanic products throughout the Roman period. Roman amphorae – mostly Greco-Italic and Lamb. 2 types from Adriatic Italy – began arriving to the region in the Hellenistic period. During this early period, Iberian productions were rare, chiefly Punic-Ibizan vessels found from Montenegro (Risan) to Albania (Skhodar, Orikos) and in the Greek Epirus. From the 1st century AD, Roman Hispanic amphorae, especially Baetican Dr. 7-11, 12, 20 and Haltern 70 types, become common in land and maritime Dalmatian sites. This is less the case in southern Dalmatia, but we think that these differences in distribution are more the result of the poor excavation methodologies in certain sites than a reflection of historical reality. This paper aims at reviewing finds of Hispanic vessels in the region.
Eastern Mediterranean relief pottery in Istria
Eastern Mediterranean relief pottery of the Hellenistic period is represented in Istria by cup fragments of so-called Ionic and Megarian bowls, and Pergamene skyphoi. Eastern Mediterranean pottery decorated in relief became more popular in Istria during the Early Imperial period: lamps, table and ritual vessels like cups and paterae are represented. Dionysiac motifs are dominant in categories of lamps and tableware, represented mainly by Corinthian cups. Paterae and oinophoroi of Cnidian production are represented in much smaller numbers. An intensive import of relief tableware and lamps from Eastern Mediterranean sources began in the 2nd century AD and lasted throughout the 3rd century. Corinthian and Cnidian products dominated. Corinthian and Attic lamps (which are present in much smaller quantities) were broadly used daily for lighting and in funerary rituals. Cnidian lamps stand out with their variety of shapes, rich relief decoration, numerous wick-holes and dominant cultic and representative character.
Imitation and integration. Changing objectscapes at Berenike (Egypt)
During the Augustan period there was an influx of ‘new’ material culture in Egypt. This influx caused changes in objectscapes and instigated a material culture revolution in the following decades. This is especially evident in the objects executed in different materials. The changing objectscapes and circulating ‘new’ objects enabled the production and the use of a new koine. Ceramic, faience, glass, and wooden artefacts uncovered in the harbour of Berenike on the Red Sea coast provide great insight into these processes. This paper will explore some of these artefacts and their use within a changing society.
Technology, Typology, and Evolution of Egyptian Pottery at Kom al-Ahmer/Kom Wasit (Near Alexandria)
The Egyptian pottery found at the sites of Kom al-Ahmer and Kom Wasit in the western Delta shows recurring characteristics in terms of technology and shape. The alluvial clay products can be divided into two macro-groups. The first, using technology that comes directly from ancient Egyptian Dynastic traditions, is characterised by the abundance of organic inclusions. The second, introduced at the beginning of the Hellenistic period, shows the influence of cooking and table-ware shapes from the Aegean-Mediterranean tradition, which led to a change in fabric and technology. The new technology concerns the introduction of kick-wheels that allow for a more regular modelling, facilitating the standardisation of pottery production. The new forms were produced continuously until the Roman times, until the 3rd century AD, when new forms of coarse ware were introduced.
Linking waste and production. What a Roman waste pit from Syene/Upper Egypt reveals
In ancient times, the Upper Egyptian city of Syene formed an important link between Egypt and neighbouring Nubia to the south. As a border town, it served not only as a transhipment point for goods but also as a station for troops. Three cohorts are attested in inscriptions for the Roman imperial period, who certainly brought their own customs and traditions. This also increased foreign influence in the first cataract region. By analysing pottery finds from a waste pit from residential buildings in the urban area, an attempt is made to show cultural connections between a border region and the Mediterranean area. The discarded material consists almost exclusively of vessels from local pottery production, whose repertoire of forms clearly shows influences from Italy, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levantine region.
Late Roman wares from Marea B at Alexandria (Egypt)
In 2018, The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities executed rescue excavations at an archaeological site in the western part of Marea abbreviated Marea B, located approximately 700 m from Hauwâriya, West Alexandria. That site constituted an important stopover for the pilgrims who used to come from all sides to visit the tomb of Saint Menas. The excavations uncovered several chambers and structures, and an assemblage of pottery dating to the late Roman and early Byzantine periods. This paper focuses on studying and dating different categories of pottery found during the excavation. These include different types of local production, such as some Late Roman Amphora 1, many examples of Late Roman Amphorae 5/6, some rare Late Roman Amphorae 7, tableware, cooking ware and some fine Egyptian red slipware.
The Roman necropolis of Kom Abu Billu (Egypt): an overview of ceramic material in funerary context
Since 2012, research has been carried out by the French Mission led by S. Dhennin (CNRS, HiSOMA) on the site of Kom Abu Billu, located on the western edge of Egyptian Delta in Menoufia Governorate. Recent archaeological excavations have focused mainly on the western part of the site, especially on the Greco-Roman necropolis area (Sector 2), revealing a remarkable number of artefacts in association with mud-bricks tombs, mainly ceramic vessels, but also lamps, terracotta figurines, faience and glass containers, and metallic objects. Most of these elements were very probably part of the funerary equipment of the burials. Thus, this paper aims at presenting and exploring the specificity of locally produced Roman pottery from one of the largest Greco-Roman necropolises of Lower Egypt.
African Red Slip Ware in Tarquinia and in the ager Tarquiniensis in Late Antiquity
Tarquinia was among the largest cities of South Etruria. Excavations by the University of Verona in the so-called domus “of the Mithraeum” and in the forum are providing the first data on the city in Roman and Late antique times, as well as on its pottery. This paper aims at analysing the consumption of African Red Slip Ware in the city and its territory by providing a preliminary presentation of the finds from the domus. These data are compared with a survey of published ARS finds from the sites of the ager Tarquiniensis to evaluate their potential for the reconstruction of local consumption and distribution patterns during Late Antiquity and their significance for the evaluation of the continuity of settlement in the area. ARS supply continues during the 5th century and the central decades of the 6th but decreases after the Gothic War and ceases after the Lombard conquest.
Alle pendici del Monte Testaccio (Roma): il contesto di via Galvani 40
The investigated area is located in a basement of the one of many caves identified at the foot of Monte dei Cocci, excavated starting from the second half of the 17th century and used for storing wine. The investigation, which identified a part of the ancient slopes of the mountain, involved the systematic collection of all the fragments on which a selection was subsequently carried out. In total, 3185 ceramic fragments were collected and classified, mostly transport containers. The most quantitatively represented group of amphorae is coming from Baetica and Tarraconense, the second most represented group is the oriental production, coming mainly from the Aegean. The context has yelded 10 stamps and 8 tituli picti on Baetican, Tarraconensis, Laietan and Eastern amphorae.
Production technology and trade of 4th–1st centuries BC cooking jars from the Pontine Region in southern Lazio (Italy)
Previous research conducted as part of the Pontine Region Project in southern Lazio has indicated that 4th–1st centuries BC cooking jars from the low-lying central part of this region were obtained through regional and supra-regional trade networks. Building upon this, the present paper examined cooking jars from three micro-regions within the Pontine region, i.e., the coastal area, the central plain and the foothills of the Lepini Mountains respectively, to reconstruct their production technology and trade networks. The results indicate that the cooking jars from the three micro-regions occur in six compositions; four seem to have been imported from production areas either from the north (e.g., Rome and Tiber Valley) or from the south (e.g., Bay of Naples), while two compositions might have been produced in the Pontine region. Possible changes in the relative supply of cooking jars are traced and different trade routes to and within the three micro-regions are proposed.
Eastern sigillata vessels from the Roman cistern at Spoletino (Civitella D'Agliano, Viterbo, Italy)
The paper presents some unpublished Eastern Sigillata vessels (chiefly Eastern Sigillata B) that were uncovered during the excavation of a Roman cistern carried out from 2014 to 2018 at Spoletino (Civitella D’Agliano, Viterbo, Italy), a site in the Middle Tiber valley. The cistern was filled up in two different phases (mid-1st century AD, and mid-4th century AD) with the discarded furnishings of a – not yet identified – villa located in the vicinity. The occurrence of imported Eastern Mediterranean tableware – even if in a very limited quantity if compared to Italian Sigillata and, for the later phase, to African Red Slip Ware – in an almost remote site is significant. An overall reconsideration of lifestyle in “rural” villas scattered in the Italian countryside can be traced through the analysis of these imported vessels, that were considered as valuable products, and that illustrate the wealth and the long-distance connections of their owners.
Vasellame comune da fuoco dalle cucine dei cesari sul Palatino, V secolo d.C.: funzioni, manifatture e mercati preferenziali
The excavations carried out by the Colosseum Archaeological Park on the Palatine hill in the area of the commercial district of the sanctuary of the Magna Mater and inside a room in the northern sector of the Domus Tiberiana have made it possible to highlight important contexts dated to the second half of the 5th century AD, that is, at the time following the abandonment of the two architectural complexes. A large series of ceramic fire vessels, the subject of this contribution, have thus been recovered, allowing us to trace a line of typological development regarding this vessel. Furthermore, the archaeozoological and paleobotanical analyzes carried out on the remains of fauna and flora associated with these materials made it possible to hypothetically suggest food choices based on various types of meat cooked with spices.
Le indagini dell’Università di Firenze a Cosa. Dati ceramici preliminari: la ceramica a vernice nera, la terra sigillata e le anfore dall’incrocio tra le strade 5 e P
Since 2016 the University of Florence has stratigraphically investigated a sector of the Latin colony of Cosa (Ansedonia, GR, Italy). The new excavations have exposed the ancient crossroad between Streets P and 5, investigating a series of dumps that were leveled above the paved Roman road. The layers contained 2nd century pottery. The analysis of the pottery gives new insights into the history of the site and the commercial network and maritime trades in which Cosa is involved during the first and the mid-empire.
Elementi di contatto fra l’attuale Canton Ticino e le diverse regioni del mondo romano
The analysis of various productions from Ticino during the Roman period indicates that the region relied on local workshops or those in the Transpadana area. The probable reason for this is that Ticino assimilated Roman culture through its proximity to Romanised centres such as Comum and Mediolanum. At this time central Italic workshops had already opened centres in the Transpadana and existing local workshops had converted to the new techniques and styles. Imports from other regions of the Empire, such as Gallic sigillata, are in fact scarce. However, Ticino is not disconnected from wider trade: contact with these networks is attested from the Iron Age onwards when Ticino was one of the regions connecting the north and south of the Alps. During the late period, though, the area seems to turn more to the north, with the presence of glass and fibulae distributed in the Alpine and Rhine regions.
Aegean trade in the Roman world: the view from North Adriatic
Pottery distribution analysis is a key method for understanding what controlled trading networks and long-distance maritime routes in particular, because these would have been conditioned by political and economic evolutions as much as by demand. The focus of this study is to highlight the correlation between Aegean and Asia Minor areas and the northern Adriatic region through the typological and chronological analyses of amphorae, fine and cooking wares. In order to perform a significant amount of quantitative and qualitative data, both published and unpublished materials have been used with a particular focus on Aquileia as a commercial hub. The result of this study offered the opportunity to reconstruct a comprehensive model of the relations that developed between both areas and makes it possible to trace the evolution of general trends on Aegean trade transformation in the upper Adriatic region over a large period of time from Late Republican to Late Antique times.
La ceramica da cucina africana dalla cisterna romana di Spoletino (Civitella d’Agliano - VT)
African cooking ware is a well-known unique case of utilitarian ware exported on large scale during Roman and Late Roman times. In the fill of the Roman cistern of Spoletino (Civitella d'Agliano - VT) this class is represented by 715 fragments that, considering the significant variety of cooking ware produced in the Tiber Valley in this period, are clear evidence of the great popularity of this kind of cooking ware. The first goal of this contribution is a complete typological study of this class, that in the inland sites is not always well represented as in Spoletino, where is significant and composed of all the usual different forms (lids, casseroles and pans), often in good condition and well preserved. The second goal, not less important, is to realise if the occurrence of the African cooking ware is caused just by its prestige or by a change in the cooking habits, fact understandable comparing the forms of the local cooking ware in this period, analysing if there are local imitations of the African forms and considering the local trade.
Disastri a confronto. Nuovi dati sulla cultura materiale e i traffici commerciali di Roma e Pompei tra la tarda età neroniana e l’età flavia
This contribution examines two documented contexts in the cities of Rome and Pompeii, linked to catastrophic events dating back to the late Neronian period. For Rome, the analysis focuses on deposits from the Colosseum valley, associated with construction activities initiated after the AD 64 fire for the construction of the Domus Aurea. In Pompeii, recently investigated soil layers at the Stabian Baths are explored, related to significant building modifications following seismic events before AD 79. Comparing these materials highlights similarities and differences between the two centers during this historical moment, including aspects like the general composition of archaeological deposits, relationships between local production and imports, and the external supply network. Notably, significant changes in interprovincial trade networks are observed, paving the way for commercial trends, including the growing influence of North African goods, persisting into late antiquity.
Contesti funerari della Puglia centrale nell’età della romanizzazione: consistenza e semantica della ceramica nel ‘caso studio’ di Butuntum
Funerary space prove to be an important indicator of the gradual changes that took place, between the 3rd and 2nd century BC, in the progressive acquisition of Roman culture in Southern Ionian–Adriatic Italy, both in the Indigenous sector and on the Italiote side. In particular, the consistency and semantics significance of the pottery in funerary assemblage (together with the topography and typology of burials, the ritual apparatus, the relationship between the necropolis and the settlement structure) contribute to interpreting the forms and phases of a complex and articulated process, in which adaptations to Roman culture and phenomena of persistence, and above all of contamination capable of involving the entire social structure within the same horizon of pan–Mediterranean change induced by Rome, are revealed. In this sense, the rich documentation collected at Butuntum – a Peucetian centre and then municipium – is here, for the first time, brought back into a systematic study, thus becoming a privileged prism and case study to begin to understand these dynamics and set up a methodological framework that can be applied to other sites.
Importazione e distribuzione delle anfore San Lorenzo 7 nella Cisalpina occidentale
The large number of San Lorenzo 7 amphorae found in Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta allows hypothetically to place their production in the northern Aegean and/or Istro-Pontic area. These amphorae seem to be coherent with economic and commercial dynamics in the Po valley and in the Alpine area during the Middle and Late Roman Empire. As the others eastern amphorae, the San Lorenzo 7 revolve around the Po-Adriatic axis. The ports of the upper Adriatic are used to the sorting of merchandise; furthermore, the amphoras go up the river Po to west Cisalpina (Torino) and the surrounding valleys, along the courses of the tributaries of the Po, reaching northern and western Alpine passes (Ivrea and Aosta, Vercelli, Cavour) to the Transalpine provinces. The contexts of Turin and Cavour, where San Lorenzo 7 were reused as cineraries, confirm their diffusion between the 2nd and the 5th century AD.
I marchi di fabbrica sulla ceramica a vernice nera padana tra la tarda repubblica e la prima età imperiale
This paper presents preliminary results of the updated catalogue of Roman Black-Gloss Pottery of the Po Valley with stamps. To date, several attempts have been made to collect evidence of marks on black-glazed ceramics, focusing on different production areas, without being able to produce a complete corpus. The research, carried out on published and unpublished material, has identified 97 marks in planta pedis, with rectangular, circular and hides frames, distributed throughout the Po Valley, from Cuneo to Aquileia, and in Noricum. The study significantly increases the number of quantitative data. It also provides a more detailed knowledge of the forms used for marking, and highlights the chronological margins of the phenomenon in the Po Valley area. Still completely unknown are the production sites: in fact, the kilns have not yet been discovered. However, the several archaeological analyses provide some clues, and in the future, this will certainly have to be further investigated.
Hellenistic Relief Ware at Pompeii. The Evidence of the Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia
Fragments of molds for Hellenistic Relief Bowls in a Vesuvian fabric and of relief vessels attributed to Asia Minor (probably Ephesian) production were discovered by the Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia. The rarity of Hellenistic Relief Bowls among drinking vessels Pompeii compared to the ubiquitous Thin-Walled Ware shows limited interest in them. As vessel fragments were found throughout the Porta Stabia area rather than in a concentration, that interest must, however, have been sustained. There is no sacral or funerary asssociation. Perhaps the bowls served a minority wanting to drink wine in the Greek fashion. The Vesuvian molds show that someone expected to satisfy a demand for locally made relief vessels, while the lack of any known Vesuvian bowls indicates an unsuccessful endeavor. Maybe the Vesuvian products were of too inferior a quality to compete with imports or the demand for such vessels was already waning when they appeared.
La terra sigillata padana di media età imperiale: status quaestionis e problemi aperti
In this paper we present the results of a preliminary study on the mid-Imperial Padana terra sigillata, produced from the 2nd century AD. This pottery is still poorly recognised and studied today, but it affects covering most of the sites in the central and eastern Po Valley, with some significant concentrations in the areas of Brescia and Verona. The work is based on the review of the published data, through which it has been possible to cross-reference archaeological details, the dating of the contexts, the different classifications adopted and the more or less conserved forms and decorations present in order to propose an initial organization of the forms, types, decorations and to propose preliminary dates. The aim of the research is to build the foundations for a general classification of this pottery, so that new data can be recorded with greater uniformity, and to advance our knowledge.
Importazioni di ceramiche fini orientali ad Aquileia. Nuovi dati dalle collezioni storiche del Museo Archeologico Nazionale. II: La ceramica e le lucerne plastiche di produzione cnidia e altre produzioni microasiatiche
The thorough examination of fine Oriental ceramics in the historical collections of the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia, previously conducted regarding Eastern sigillata and Corinthian relief ware in RCRF 46 (Ventura e Maggi 2020), has now been completed. This review encompasses Knidian relief ware, along with other productions from Asia Minor (primarily from Pergamon), and fragments of ceramic lamps from the same region. The pottery collection (51 specimens) comprises both closed forms (such as oinophoroi or other cylindrical jugs, pelikai and amphorae) and open ones (like lagynoi and phialai), as well as a wide array of plastic vessels (including anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and phallic examples). The lamp collection (19 specimens) includes anthropomorphic or zoomorphic lamps in addition to horse’s head ends of the volutes of Broneer XXI lamps and curved handles, sometimes with grooves, terminating in animal heads.
Fra Mediterraneo orientale e occidentale: la ceramica con figure grottesche
This paper examines the thin and elongated figures, almost skeletal, which are documented in many ceramic productions between the second half of the 1st century BC and the first half of the 2nd century AD: glazed pottery of western Asia Minor, Pontic bottles with barbotine decoration; Cnidian relief pottery; Sigillata Nord-Italica; Sigillata produced in Arretium and Pisae (workshops of M. Perennius Bargathes and Cn. Ateius); Sigillata produced in Vasanello; Sigillata Gallica (ateliers of Montans and La Graufesenque); Sigillata Tardo-Italica. These figures were found in the Mediterranean area, in the Black Sea area and in the western provinces. The prototypes are to be found above all in the late Hellenistic craftsmanship. These figures are sometimes part of scenes presumably related to mime, but they have a mainly decorative function. In any case, the link with the symposium is evident.