Ro-ro, Row Your Boat Have you ever heard of ro-ro? No, it’s not the latest skateboarding stunt. Ro-ro is short for roll on-roll off. It describes huge cargo ships that carry wheeled vehicles such as autos and railroad cars. These ocean-going ships are designed with ramps so that vehicles can easily drive on and off.

What in the World...is an Amphora?by Stephanie Allen An amphora is a familiar object These, too, were a specific size and to people who study Mediterranean shape, but very different from those archaeology. What were they used made to carry olive oil. Although for? How were they made? What different nations often used different- can they tell us about trade and sized amphorae, the container’s transportation in the ancient use as a unit of measurement world? shows how common it was.Though The amphora was the barrel amphorae were often created for of ancient times. Many important a specific purpose, the containers trade goods from wine to oil were often reused for carrying and to grain were poured into these storing other goods. Think of these unglazed containers. vessels as early recyclables! To make amphorae (the plural word To ancient shippers, amphorae had for amphora), clay was generally built an ideal form. A rope was run through the up by hand, using the coil method. Most handles of the containers, allowing them amphorae had pointed bases, although to be tied together. Then the bundle some were almost completely round. could be carried around the docks and Though amphorae were mainly loaded onto a ship. On board the ship, used to carry liquids, some have amphorae fit perfectly into specially been found on shipwrecks still designed racks. The pointed bottom containing whole olives and dried fit into a hole. Matting was packed fruits. around the containers for support. Amphorae were used not only for Once placed in a rack, an amphora transportation, but also for storage would not move from its position, even and even as a unit of measurement. in the roughest water. Amphorae from a particular area, Many makers altered the design made for carrying a particular item, of amphorae and placed their mark were regular in shape and size. The on the handle. This means that the Roman amphora carried 25.5 liters of origin of a specific container can liquid. often be identified. Piles of amphorae Amphorae were also made to on the sea floor have often been used carry Spanish wine from the Iberian in locating and identifying ancient Peninsula across the Roman Empire. shipwrecks.

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