Ceramic production in Roman-age Apulia: lychnological contexts

Abstract

Archaeological research in Apulia have given solid grounds for a historical characteristic of the region, specifying the nature of settlements and their socio-economic environment in the Roman age. But production centers, primarily pottery workshops, as well as commonly traded shapes, trade routes and consumer centers still are in need of comprehensive study. For this purpose a targeted examination of Apulia et Calabria has been launched, identifying places and modalities of pottery production from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD on the grounds of both permanent installations and mobile finds. This contribution, which takes advantage of the documentation collected within the frame of this research, seeks to identify and contextualize sites where clay oil lamps were being produced, through the scopes of production continuity/discontinuity and the modalities of settlement, craft, economy and commerce.