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Ceramics from Late Roman Contexts in Durrës1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2013

Brikena Shkodra
Brikena Shkodra
Affiliation:
Muzeu Arkeologjik, Shëtitorja Taulantia, Durrës
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Abstract

What seems to be the case is that Durrës during the late Roman period was incorporated in the network of Byzantine state-controlled supply which operated throughout the east and west Mediterranean, suggesting that the city was more open to the east than to the west in late Antiquity. By contrast, the supply of Tunisian fine ware and amphorae is smaller then the imports from the eastern Mediterranean. However, the persistence presence of Tunisian wares throughout late Vandal and Byzantine period argues for sustained interaction between east and west within the Byzantine world. The presence of local production in the 6th century contexts merits further analysis.

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Articles
Information
Annual of the British School at Athens , Volume 101 , November 2006 , pp. 427 - 457
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 2006

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References

2 The excavation was part of an ongoing project of the Albanian Institute of Archaeology, directed by As. Prof. Afrim Hod: Hoti 1987, 261; 1988, 271–2; 1996, 176–7.

3 Thanks to Paul Reynolds for some fabric identification. Scientific characterization of the pottery through thin-section analysis is fundamental to any further work in this area. A fundamental assessment of ceramic sources was made at Carthage as well as at other sites in Africa Proconsularis, Byzacena, and Tripolitania through visual classification, petrological examination as well as well as chemical and other archaeometric analyses: Peacock, D. P. S., Pottery in the Roman World: An Ethnoarchaeological Approach (London, 1982)Google Scholar; Fulford–Peacock 1984, 6–28; Mackensen–Schneider 2002, 134–57; Peacock, D. P. S., Bejaoui, F., and Lazreg, N. Ben, ‘Roman pottery production in central Tunisia,’ JRA 3 (1990), 59–84Google Scholar. These facilities are not available so far in Albania.

4 Hayes 1980. p. xiii; id., ‘The study of Roman pottery in the Mediterranean: 23 years after Late Roman Pottery,’ in Saguì 1998, 9–21 at 17; Fulford–Peacock 1984; 1994, 97–115; Reynolds 1993; 2002, 221–7; Bonifay, M., ‘Observations sur les amphores tardives à Marseille d'après les fouilles de la Bourse (1980–1984),’ Revue archéologique de Narbonnaise, 19 (1986), 269–306CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Poulter, A. G., Nicopolis ad Istrum: A Roman to Early Byzantine City; The Pottery and Glass (Leicester, 1999), 28–30Google Scholar.

5 Bowden, W., Hodges, R., and Lako, K., ‘Roman and Late Antique Butrint: excavations and survey 2000–2001,’ JRA 15 (2002), 199–229Google Scholar; Reynolds 2002; 2004.

6 Reynolds 2002, 221.

7 Reynolds 2004, 241.

8 Hoxha, G., ‘Amfora antike të vona nga qyteti i Shkodrës (Shek. V–fillimi i shek. VII),’ Iliria, 1992/1–2, 209–32Google Scholar; Hoxha, 2003, 224.

9 Pröttel 1996, 174, Abb. 62.

10 Ibid., 174.

11 The medieval and modern towns appear to occupy the same site as the ancient city.

12 Hoti 1987, 261; 1988; 1996, 176–7.

13 Hoti 1996, 176–7.

14 Hoti 1988, 271–2.

15 Hoti 1996, 176.

16 Ibid.

17 G. Muka, ‘Rotonda e Durrësit,’ Monumentet, 2003, 7–26.

18 Several graves are found at the level of the marble paving covered by large tiles, some containing goods that date them to the 7th–8th c.: Hoti 1987, 262.

19 The interim report of the excavation of c.2000 at Macellum Forum is stored in the Durrës Museum archive.

20 Hoti 1987.

21 Recent work on the site has been undertaken since 2002 by an Albanian-English team, and is in course of publication.

22 Catling 1972; casseroles of this type are also present in a mid-6th-c. context at Carthage: Fulford-Peacock 1984: Casserole 37, fig. 70.

23 For details see Shkodra 2003.

24 Tortorella, S., ‘La ceramica africana: un riesame della problematica,’ in Lévêque, P. and Morel, J.-P. (eds.), Céramiques hellénistiques et romaines, ii (Paris, 1987), 279–327Google Scholar; id., ‘La ceramica africana: un riesame della problematica. Un bilancio dell'ultimo decennio di ricerche,’ in P. Trousset (ed.), Productions et exportations africaines: actualités archéologiques. L'Afrique du Nord antique et mediévale (VIe Colloque int. 1993, CTHS 1995), 79–101; Mackensen 1993; Bonifay 2004.

25 Mackensen, M., ‘Arbeitsgeräte aus dem spätantiken Töpfereisentrum von El Mahrine, Nordtunesien,’ RM 105 (1998), 431–9Google Scholar; Peacock et al. (n. 3).

26 Mackensen-Schneider 2002.

27 Mackensen 1993; Pröttel 1996; Bonifay 2004, 155–210.

28 Hayes 1980, 516.

29 Barraud, D., Bonifay, M., Dridi, F., and Pichonneau, J.-F.. ‘L'industrie céramique de l'Antiquité tardive,’ in Hassen, H. Ben and Maurin, L. (eds.), Uthina (Oudhna): la redécouverte d'une ville antique de Tunisie (Bordeaux, Paris, and Tunis, 1998), 139–67 at 148Google Scholar; Bonifay et al. 1998, 417, context no. 28.

30 Bonifay 2004; Bonifay et al. 1998, context no. 8; Riley 1981, 102, fig. 5. 10, 12, 13; Pröttel 1996, 55, Gruppe 6, Abb. 62.

31 Bonifay 2004, 181.

32 Hayes 1980, 516; id., ‘Pottery Report 1976,’ in J. H. Humphrey (ed.) Excavations at Carthage 1976, Conducted by the University of Michigan, iv (Ann Arbor, 1978), 23–98 at 68, fig. 20; Pröttel 1996, 50–1, 113.

33 Bonifay et al. 1998, 418, Tabl. CIII: context 7.

34 Hayes, J. W., ‘Pottery, stratified groups and typology,’ in Humphrey, J. H. (ed.) Excavations at Carthage 1975, conducted by the University of Michigan, i (Tunis, 1976), 47–123Google Scholar, B23, pl. 24; id. 1978 (n. 32), 26, 72, B78, pl. 2.

35 There are found: a variant of ARS 91B/C, a possible ARS 91 D as well as two examples of ARS 99A: Reynolds 2004, 228, fig. 13. 120–1, 126–7.

36 Hoxha 2003, 66–7, tab. xiv. 9; xv. 4.

37 Ibid., 67, tab. xiv. 14, 15.

38 Bonifay, M. and Cerova, Y., ‘Le matériel céramique,’ in Beaudry, N. et al. , ‘Byllis (Albanie): études, rapports et chroniques,’ BCH 126 (2002), 631–84 at 679–82Google Scholar.

39 Mackensen-Schneider 2002, 128; Bonifay 2004, 173–4.

40 These variants are exceptionally common at Alicante/Benalua deposit: Reynolds 1995, 29–30.

41 Bonifay 2004, 187–8.

42 A variant of ARS 87B at Shkodër is found in a context dated to the first half of the 5th c. as well as two fragments of ARS 87C: Hoxha 2003, 66, tab. xiv. 5, 6–8. The Butrint variants are found in a context of the first half of the 6th c. at the triconch palace: Reynolds 2004, 228, fig. 13. 116, 118.

43 Ibid., fig. 13. 117.

44 Pröttel 1996, 57–8, 113.

45 M. Mackensen, ‘Centres of ARS ware production in Tunisia from the late fifth to the seventh century,’ in Saguì 1998. 23–39.

46 Reynolds 2002.

47 Pröttel 1996, 65–6, Gruppe 8, Abb. 62.

48 Hayes, J. W., Late Roman Pottery (London, 1972), 323–70Google Scholar.

49 Reynolds 2004, 228, fig. 13. 137–42; Hoxha 2003, 71–2, pls. xviii. 8, xvii. 9, xviii. 1–6.

50 PRS is the dominant fine ware at San Giovani di Ruoti for the period 450–early 6th c: Hayes 1972, 416; Small, A. M. and Buck, R. J., The Excavations of San Giovanni di Ruoti I: The Villas and their Environment (Toronto, 1994)Google Scholar; Maioli, M. G., ‘La ceramica fine da mensa (terra sigillata),’ in Bermond Montanari 1983, 86–112 at 105Google Scholar; Reynolds 1995, 35.

51 Riley 1981, 115–22; Panella, C., ‘Merci e scambi nel Mediterraneo tardoantico,’ in Giardina, A. (ed.), Storia di Roma, iii: L'età tardoantica, 2: I luoghi e le culture (Turin, 1993), 613–97 at 665–6Google Scholar.

52 Egloff, 1977, pl. 58 no. 2.

53 Ibid., pl. 57 no. 4.

54 Reynolds 2002; 2004, fig. 13. 174–84, 230–1; Hoxha 2003, 49–50, pl. i. 1–12; Karaiskaj, Gj., ‘Të dhëna të reja për datimin e kalasë së Elbasanit,’ Monumentet, 3 (1972), 147–57Google Scholar, pl. 2. 5; K. Lako, ‘Kështjella e Onhezmit,’ Iliria, 1984/2, 153–205, pl. II. 7, 9.

55 Arthur 1998, 164; Fulford-Peacock 1984, 20–2; Empereur, J.-Y. and Picon, M., ‘Les régions de production d'amphores impériales en Méditerranée orientale,’ in Amphores romaines et histoire économique: dix ans de recherches (Sienne 1986) (Rome, 1989), 223–48Google Scholar.

56 Panella (n. 51), 665–6.

57 This type is also present at other sites in Albania: Hoxha 2003, pl. ii. 1–7; D. Komata, ‘Të dhëna të reja arkeologjike nga Kalaja e Krujës,’ Iliria, 1982/1, 221–32, pl. i. 8; F. Tartari, ‘Amforat e Muzeut Arkeologjik Durrë s: Përpjekje për një katalog të tyre,’ Iliria, 1982/2, 241–79, fig. 25; Y. Cerova, ‘Kështjella e Qafës në krahinën e Sulovës,’ Iliria, 1987/2, 155–75, pl. VII; Lako (n. 54), pl. III/13; Reynolds 2004, fig. 13. 186–90.

58 Reynolds 2004, 231; Arthur 1998, 168.

59 Reynolds 2004, 231–2.

60 Almagro, M., Las necrópolis de Ampurias, ii (Barcelona, 1955)Google Scholar; Scorpan, C., ‘Origini i linei evolutive în ceramica romano-bizantin din ariile mediteranian i pontic,’ Pontica, 9 (1976), 155–85Google Scholar; Riley, J. A., ‘The pottery from the first season of excavation in the Caesarea Hippodrome,’ BASOR 218 (1975), 25–63 at 27–31Google Scholar; id., ‘The coarse pottery from Berenice,’ in J. A. Lloyd (ed.), Excavations at Sidi Khrebish, Benghazi (Berenice): Supplements to Libya Antiqua V (Tripoli, 1979), ii. 91–467 at 219–22.

61 Bonifay-Piéri 1995, 112, fig. 9. 60–2.

62 Landgraf, J., ‘Keisan's Byzantine Pottery,’ in Briend, J. and Humbert, J. B. (eds.), Tell Keisan (1971–1976): une cité phenicienne en Galilee (Paris, 1980), 51–99 at 76Google Scholar; Johnson, B. L., ‘Syro-Palestinian bag-shaped amphoras in the Athenian Agora and Corinth collections,’ BCH Supp. 13 (1986), 589–97 at 590Google Scholar; On the other hand, from the 6th-c. contexts at the triconch palace in Butrint, a LR5 Palestinian type is represented in a Gazan fabric, a similar phenomenon is noticed in Beirut: Reynolds 2004, 230.

63 Riley 1975 (n. 60); Fulford-Peacock 1984, 121; Arthur 1998, 159.

64 A rim and handle of the bag-shaped amphora with the same fabric are present in the 6th-c. deposit at the triconch palace at Butrint. An origin in the north Palestinian region of Akko/Acre is suggested: Reynolds 2004, 229, fig. 13. 172–3.

65 Johnson (n. 82), 591–3, FIG. 1 a–e.

66 Robinson, H. S., Agora, v (Princeton, 1959), 115Google Scholar, M329–30, pl. 32.

67 Bonifay-Piéri 1995, 113, fig. 10 no. 72–3.

68 A coin of Anastasius I (491–518) as well as two coins of Justin II and Sophia (565–78) are accordingly considered as terminus post quem and terminus ante quem for the presence of LR5 amphorae at Shkodër: Hoxha 2003, 53, pl. iii. 6–9.

69 Arthur 1998, 59; kilns of this production are found in Aiyadiya (Akko/Keisan region): Landgraf (n. 62).

70 Riley 1981, 89–90, 121; M. L. Stoppioni Piccoli, ‘Le anfore,’ in Bermond Montanari 1983, 130–46 at 132–3.

71 Robinson (n. 66), 109, pl. 29; Arthur 1998, 167; Bonifay-Piéri 1995, 114; Reynolds 2004, 233.

72 Ibid., fig. 13. 194, cat. 347.

73 Ibid., 232–4.

74 The same variants are found at Shkodër in contexts dated to the 6th c. Hoxha 2003, 56: Variant A: tab. vi. 14; Variant B: tab. vi. 3, 4, 7–9.

75 Bonifay-Piéri 1995, 102; Bonifay 2004, 137, type 45.

76 Reynolds 2004, 229, fig. 13. 158.

77 Hoxha 2003, 56. Variant A: tab. vi. 14; Variant B: tab. vi. 3, 4, 7–9.

78 Reynolds 2004, 229, figs. 13. 155–6, 159.

79 Hoxha 2003, 54, tab. ix. 1–6; id.., 1992. tab. ix. 1–6.

80 Panella, C., ‘Anfore,’ in Carandini, A. and Panella, C. (eds.), Ostia, iii = Studi miscellanei, 21 (1973), 463–633 at 474–80Google Scholar.

81 Ibid., 463–633; Manacorda, D., ‘Anfore,’ in Carandini, A. and Panella, C. (eds.), Ostia, iv = Studi miscellanei, 23 (1977), 117–266Google Scholar; Keay, S. J., Late Roman Amphorae in the Western Mediterranean. A Typology and Economic Study: The Catalan Evidence (BAR S194; Oxford, 1984)Google Scholar.

82 Ibid.; Keay, ‘Tunisian amphorae,’ in Saguì 1998, 141–55 at 141.

83 Fulford-Peacock 1984, 24–5; Reynolds 1993, 132.

84 As regards its place origin, Fulford suggests that the clay originates from an area of recent volcanic activity, in Italy or the Aegean: Fulford-Peacock 1984, 24–5; As this ware is very common in Alicante/Benalua and Carthage, Reynolds 1993, 134; 1995. 102–5 suggests a place relatively close to both sites as its source region, possibly SE Sicily or Algeria.

85 Shkodra 2003, 47.

86 Hoxha 2003, 87, type Ia2, tab. xxiii. 6–9.

87 Fulford-Peacock 1984, fig. 70; Reynolds 1993, pl. 57.

88 Reynolds 2004, 234, figs. 13. 229–32; Hoxha 2003, 88, type Ic1, tab. xxiv. 8–10.

89 Riley 1979 (n. 60), 272–3, fig. 107. 558.

90 A. R. Staffa, ‘Le produzioni ceramiche in Abruzzo tra fine V e VII secolo,’ in Saguì 1998, 437–80 at 463–5, fig. 18/66a.

91 Reynolds 1993, 133, pls. 55–6.

92 Ibid.; Fulford-Peacock 1984, 187, fig. 70.

93 Reynolds 2004, 234, fig. 13. 235.

94 Ibid., 235, fig. 13. 269.

95 Shkodra 2003, 48.

96 Hoxha 2003, 95, tab. xxxiv. 1–4.

97 Fulford-Peacock 1984, 203.

98 Reynolds 2004, 234. fig. 13. 227–8.

99 McCormick, M., Origins of the European Economy: Communications and Commerce, A.D. 300–900 (Cambridge, 2001), 68–9Google Scholar.

100 The pattern tallies with Butrint, where the quantity of Tunisian ARS c.500–50 rose in comparison with the quantities imported during the 5th c: Reynolds 2002.

101 Keay 1998 (n. 82), 147–8.

102 The presence of these later forms is also noticed at Shkodër, well into the first quarter of the 7th c: Hoxha 2003, 136.

103 Reynolds 2004, 241–2.

104 Hoxha 2003, 94–6, tab. xxxiii–xxxv.

105 Reynolds 2004, 234–5, fig. 13. 207.