La ceramica rinvenuta nella villa romana di San Potito di Ovindoli (AQ)

Abstract

This paper presents the pottery originating from three groups of objects found in close association – in a well, a cistern and a burnt layer –, and the most characteristic vessel types as well as all the lamps found during the series of excavations at the site. The well excavated in the eastern part of the villa yielded pottery dating from the second half of the AD 1st and the beginning of the 2nd century. Only 0.5% of this ensemble was imported pottery, 6.4% was thin-walled and color-coated pottery, and 91.4% coarse pottery. In addition to these, the deposit contained a few ampullae and incense burners (turibulum). Only one piece of North-African red slip ware was found in the fill of the cistern located in the middle of the northern courtyard and the channel leading there. Here 10% of the pottery finds was composed of fine ware, and the amount of coarse pottery was significant. The fill of the well established in the later phase of the villa dated from the second half of the AD 3rd century. However, the pottery found in it is composed of types characteristic for the AD 1st and 2nd centuries – if its chronology can be reconstructed at all. Amphora fragments from Hispania and a piece of samian ware form Dr. 29 from La Graufesenque was unearthed in a burnt layer in the southern part of the early villa, as well as household ware dating from the period of the Flavian dynasty and the reign of Trajan. Here fine ware constituted 7.8% of the pottery finds. Vessels that were intact or could be refit were found atop the terrazzo floor in the central part of the villa, which might have been still in use when the villa was destroyed.