Le anfore medievali in Dalmazia

Abstract

A comprehensive picture of medieval amphorae in and surrounding Dalmatia between the 10th and 11th centuries is divided into different type-samples that appear more useful in defining a number of working hypotheses than others. On the one hand, the circulation of the Otranto type amphorae appears to be early and to have already begun in the 10th Century. In addition to a series of shipwrecks, several coastal and inland sites in Montenegro contribute to defining issues connected to these. On the other, series of imports from various sources in the Eastern Mediterranean, but which do not reflect uniform spreads, can be identified. The most widespread evidence of this category are pyriform amphorae, like a series produced of possibly Pontic amphorae, while other categories, such as the ‘Ganos Amphorae’, seem to present to a lesser extent. The Mljet wreck and other Dalmatian finds indicate, from the outset, a certain revitalization of the Adriatic routes. After an early Medieval Period of more difficult definition, during this moment Venice and the Northern Adriatic Sea represented a point of arrival for goods coming from both Southern Italy, Pontus and, generally, for the Eastern Mediterranean. As shown by sites in Montenegro, this new economic period – the possible beginnings of the ‘commercial revolution’ – must be assessed also in terms of the dimension of local and regional trade, which used ports of call and docks of different dimensions and variously linked to the new elites and developing centres.