Trade in the Roman world

Amphorae

Emily RyleySession 511th July 2010

Form and FunctionGeneral characteristics:- 1m tall- Double handled- Spike at bottom as 3rd handle when

pouring.- 24 – 30 L (6-7.9 US gallon) capacity.

Though Dressel 20 amphorea held between 40-80 L.

Contained:- Wine - Olive oil- Garcum (fish sauce) - Solids including dates, olives, oysters, figs,

nuts.

e.g. An amphora found at Tinaka, Southern Russia that was sealed and still full of lamp oil.

Amphorae were permeable but to make them impervious the inside was coated in Rosin (residue from the distillation of pine resin).

Stoppers of cork or fired clay sealed with mortar.

Amphorae were the plastic wrappers of today and were regularly disposed of . Mt Testaccio stands testament to this.

Production of the amphorae Main body of the amphorae wad made first

on a potter’s wheel the neck, rim and handles were added later.

- Also added was a stamp, probably that of the estate owner.

Produced where the commodity they were to carry was produced.

Specific amphorae kilns have been found in these areas.

ClassificationThrough:1.Tituli pitichi (painted

inscriptions)2.Marks3.Seals4.Shape/ form/ distinctive

features5.Principle content6.Origin7.Occurrence8.Date range9.Fabric10.Petrological

characteristics (photomicrographs of clay)

Map of roman amphorae kilns

Examples: (From Amphorae and the roman economy)1.Class 8/ Dressel 6/ Lamboglia 22.Class 17/ Camulodunum 186A/ Beltran I/ Schone-Mau VII3.Class 29/ Gauloise 3

Evidence for tradeTypes of evidence:- Kilns- Stamps; of the estate owner- Painted incriptions;

- giving date, origin, contents, weight difference between when full and empty.

- Shipwrecks - e.g. The Madrague De Giens wreck, and Albenga wreck.

- Inclusions in the clay - Distribution of amphorae types

Before wine production was established in areas such as Gaul and Britain, a single amphorae of wine could be worth as much as one slave!

Major trading areasTrade between areas of production and areas of

consumption. E.g. Oil producing countries (Spain, North Africa, Italy) trade with areas such as France and Britain. (Though there is not much evidence for trade between Africa and Britain.

Spain-Italy trading was particularly strong.Mid 1st century to mid 2nd century; peak in trade.- Spain: Olive oil and Garcum- Gaul: Wine We see a decline in wine transport from the end

of the first century.