A Detailed Study of Transport Amphorae from the Macquarie University Museum of Ancient Cultures
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Emlyn Dodd From Hispania to the Chalkidiki: A Detailed Study of Transport Amphorae from the Macquarie University Museum of Ancient Cultures Emlyn Dodd This study considers a collection of four diverse amphorae recently acquired by the Macquarie University Museum of Ancient Cultures. Upon commencing, these ceramic vessels bore no information regarding distribution or contents and were largely unanalyzed and unpublished. This paper seeks to determine what they can reveal through a detailed study of their origins, provenance, principal contents, and potential distribution. It is hoped that this information will aid in the analysis of larger trade networks for these amphora types along with their role in the economies of the ancient Mediterranean.* 22 Chronika From Hispania to the Chalkidiki Introduction “Amphora, 4th Century – Pottery amphora, of As one of the fundamental bulk transport elongated form, tapering to a pointed base with facilitators in antiquity, the amphora plays a large two small loop handles at the neck, the rim role not only in international and interregional curving, sea encrusted. Stand for mounting. trade, but also the local agricultural and Ex-collection of Mr. Sandy Nardini, founder domestic market. The four examples purchased of the Scottish Nardini Ice Cream business, by the Macquarie University Museum of given to him as a housewarming gift in the 1 Ancient Cultures (MAC), however, were most 1950’s.” Access was generously provided to all likely traded, transported or travelled within of the amphorae periodically over the course the international or interregional realm due of one year to allow hand-held study and to their likely marine provenance. The focus documentation. While the preliminary results of this paper will take this into consideration have proven useful, further scientific and rather than any potential domestic, regional or petrological examination would allow for more secondary use. concrete and comprehensive analyses. Discussions of shape, preservation, MU4639 – Mendean Amphora c. 370 B.C.E. petrological characteristics, origin, contents, and possible distribution are presented along Shape Description with an appendix of detailed measurements for each amphora. A graphical representation This amphora has a turnip-shaped body with of the proposed date ranges for each amphora a sharp, somewhat carinated, shoulder (fig. 1). is also provided in figure 6. It is through an The rim tapers down and outwards from the lip examination of these features that the value to a sharp point and then changes direction to of exploring and analyzing de-contextualized join the neck with a slightly concave curve. The artefacts can be seen, particularly those strap-like handles attach to the long, cylindrical in museum collections with limited or no neck just below the rim, rising slightly and then provincial data. continuing almost vertically downwards to join the body in between the base of the neck The latest additions to the MAC arrived with and shoulder. The body tapers down from the little information and only brief typological shoulders and flows into a short-stemmed, studies had been undertaken to determine vague flaring or splayed toe with a deep depression geographical origin. The only information underneath (appx. 1.1). It also includes a supplied with these four amphorae were small carination near its base in the form of a brief notes on one vessel (MU4616), stating: thickened and raised band of clay. Figure 1: Mendean Amphora (MU4639) Institute for European and Mediterranean Archaeology 23 Emlyn Dodd Preservation which most conclusively shows MU4639 to be Mendean in origin.7 The handles from This vessel is almost completely intact, MU4639 are not quite vertical but also not with only small chips and pieces missing an S-curve, hence, the vessel falls somewhere from the outer lip in multiple locations. It is between Eiseman’s Type 1.A and 1.C amphora, thoroughly encrusted with marine sediment possibly Type 1.B.8 and concretion covering approximately 70% of the vessel thus making further analysis of Date the state of preservation somewhat difficult in certain areas. Mendean amphorae are dated between the second half of the fifth to the late fourth Fabric and Petrological Characteristics century B.C.E.9 This relatively brief time span is likely due to the region’s history and relatively The body is a dark, rich red color with some quick synoecism that resulted in the creation of sections moving to a golden yellow shade, the Kassandreia;10 or it may rather simply be due to darker areas being those most likely covered by a lack of excavated and published examples of silt. The neck is a lighter greyish-brown or tan later Mendean amphorae. MU4639 appears to color only going as far as a light red on one fall within this brief chronology. As there are side. There are many coarse inclusions evident no visible stamps or other inscriptions or dipinti, and pockmarks visible on the outer layer from dating must be solely based upon morphology the firing process. It should be noted that due and comparison with other relatively securely to the heavily encrusted nature of the vessel, dated forms. The communis opinio with regard to without creating a fresh break, it was difficult dating Mendean amphorae focuses on the fact to fully observe the nature of the fabric. While that they began, in the late fifth century B.C.E., some sections of MU4639 can be identified with a shorter, squatter body and neck and a with Whitbread’s most common color of 5YR more round overall figure which developed in a 6/6 (reddish yellow), the majority of the vessel relatively short time period to a more elongated is a darker hue with the ‘light red’ sections and angular shape.11 Based on this trend, closer to 2.5YR 6/6.2 Whitbread has also MU4639 can be seen to date later than the identified two distinct classes of fabric relating Porticello Mendean amphorae and amphora to Mendean amphorae and, without scientific U13:1 from the Athenian Agora (both dated petrological analysis, MU4639 fits most closely to the early fourth century) and earlier than with Class 1.3 While the two classes are very amphora R13:11 from the Athenian Agora similar, Class 1 has a rougher texture with (dated no later than 351 B.C.E. based upon a distinct bimodal grain size and many inclusions closed deposit created by the construction of closely identifiable with MU4639.4 the Maussolleion of Halikarnassos).12 From the angular and relatively long morphology Origin of MU4639, yet still somewhat thick as compared to R13:11, it should be concluded This vessel provides an interesting mixture of that MU4639 fits somewhere midway between morphological characteristics suggesting two the aforementioned examples, perhaps c. 370 possible origins. The neck, body and toe are B.C.E. almost identical to those Mendean amphorae analyzed by Whitbread suggesting a Mendean Principal Contents provenance.5 The rim, however, is not rolled as the Mendean examples show; it is more It should first be recognised that MU4639 similar to the Graeco-Italic forms found at bears large-scale concretion over its surface Euesperides by Göransson.6 It is perhaps suggesting that it was found in a marine the evidence from the Porticello shipwreck context. While this may not narrow down 24 Chronika From Hispania to the Chalkidiki whether it was being re-used or still contained feast and are hence very well preserved.18 It its principal and original contents, it suggests can therefore be seen that Mendean amphorae that it was last used actively in trade on board a were used across the Mediterranean in ancient shipping vessel.13 The area surrounding Mende times, being found in the far-west near Majorca was known famously in ancient times for its to the far north-east region of the Black Sea. wine14 and it is logical to assume that a large This simply demonstrates that without detailed proportion of, if not all, Mendean amphorae biological study of the encrustations and were used originally for the transportation of concretion on MU4639, and further scientific this commodity. There are no remaining signs and petrological investigation, no conclusive of content residue or sealant on the interior of agreement can be met on the provenance of the vessel and without further detailed scientific the amphora. examination it is difficult to determine exactly what it last held. Taking into account previous MU4666 – (Corinthian) ‘B’ Amphora/Graeco- publications and finds, however, it can be Italic Intermediate Form c. 325-300 B.C.E. hypothesised that MU4639 contained wine.15 Shape Description Distribution and Provenance The body is a globular turnip shape with a It must first be recognised that very little is sharp carination at the shoulder (fig. 2). The known of the production and distribution of solid-made ‘peg’ toe is also joined to the body Mendean amphorae, however, details regarding at a sharp angle and has a flat and angular base. their distribution and trading routes can be The strap-like handles attach just below the extrapolated from known finds. Numerous rim, are slightly arched at their peak and then examples have been found in deposits at flow vertically down to attach again midway up the Athenian Agora along with those on the the shoulder (appx.1.2). The rim is a flattened Alonnesos, Porticello, and El Sec shipwrecks.16 disc shape with a slight concave shape on On the other end of the spectrum, finds have its underside and a slightly rounded lip. It is been made from settlements in the lower important to