Libyan Studies 42 (2011)

A local production of Mid Roman 1 amphorae at Latrun, Cyrenaica

By Loc Mazou1 and Claudio Capelli2
Abstract Excavations at the village of Erythron/Latrun near Apollonia in Cyrenaica uncovered a potters rubbish dump in an abandoned Roman bath complex, thought to be linked to the nearby potters kiln. Common wares and lamps were produced here and of particular note were Mid Roman 1 amphorae. These amphorae were thought to have been produced mainly in Sicily but also North Africa, and with the new discovery at Latrun we can now also add Cyrenaica to the list. Archaeometric (thin section) analysis on samples from the site confirms this theory.

Since 2009 research on the Roman and Byzantine ceramics from the ancient town of Apollonia in Cyrenaica and the village of Erythron/Latrun (25 km east of Apollonia, Figure 1) has been carried out within the programme of the Mission Archologique Franaise en Libye directed by M. Andr Laronde until his death on February 1, 2011, and thereafter by M. Vincent Michel. The archaeological campaigns of 2009 and 2010 at Erythron/Latrun, excavated under the direction of V. Michel, saw the clearing of the heated rooms of a Roman bath complex, which had been abandoned at the end of the third/beginning of the fourth century AD. The heated rooms, whose hypocaust had been completely removed, were filled with layers of clay and ash that contained numerous ceramics. Most of the material (88%) suggested the presence of a potters rubbish dump, including: unused ceramics, lumps of clay stuck to the walls of some pieces, many joining fragments from the same vessel, and many overfired sherds. According to the petrographic analyses (see C.C., infra), the characteristics of the fabric seem compatible with a local production, while the imported material (12% of the same context) is clearly distinguishable (ARS and a few Eastern Mediterranean amphora sherds). This ceramic material found in the hot rooms
1 University of Poitiers, France. 2 DIP .TE.RIS., University of Genoa, Italy and Centre Camille Jullian, MMSH-CNRS, Aix-enProvence, France.

of the bath complex seems to be associated with a pottery kiln, found just to the north, although very little material was recovered from the latter. It can thus be proposed, with some degree of confidence, that after the abandonment or destruction of the heated rooms the space was reused as a dump, linked to the functioning of the potters kiln. Most of the local wares are characterised by storage vessels, jugs, cooking wares and lamps. Amongst the storage vessels found within the rich context, one particular type of amphora stood out. This was the Mid Roman 1 (MRA1) from John Rileys typology (Riley 1979, 177179, figs 81.215219 and 82.220221)(Figs 26). The quality of production is fairly second-rate, with many lumps of clay on the external surfaces, deformed necks, and handles with non-symmetrical rounded sections, sometimes very roughly attached to the neck and body. They usually have a shallow groove under the rim, which is triangular in section. The fabrics of these amphorae appear medium-fine to the naked eye, the colour varies between red and red-orange, and has numerous grey or white inclusions (see C.C., infra). Looking at the manufacture, it often shows significant variation within the same assemblage (Fig. 5) and we also found several greenish ceramic wasters, one example of which had a rim that had begun to melt under the heat (Fig. 6). This type of amphora represented more than 21% of the total quantity of ceramics in the hot rooms of the bath complex at Latrun, and more than 77% of the total quantity of amphorae from the same context.

Figure 1. Location of the Latrun site in Cyrenaica.

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Figure 2. Mid Roman Amphora 1: Latrun Amphora 1a.

Figure 3. Mid Roman Amphora 1: Latrun Amphora 1b.

The location of the production of MRA1 amphorae has been widely debated (Bonifay 2004, 146148; Capelli and Bonifay 2007, 554). Initially considered as an African production on account of their notable presence in Tripolitania, particularly at Leptis Magna (Panella 1973, 471), they have also been attributed to Sicilian workshops, particularly those at Naxos in north-eastern Sicily, following the discovery of workshops producing them (Freed and Wilson 1999, 268; Malfitana et al. 2008, 174180; Wilson 1990, 264; Wilson 2000, 361363). More recently, archaeometric analyses on several samples recovered in Tunisia and Tripolitania as well as in southern France have demonstrated that, for the most part, MRA1 were produced in Sicily (Capelli and Bonifay 2007, 554; Fontana et al. 2009). However, some examples from Lyon suggest the existence of a small number of workshops in North Africa, that were producing copies of this type of amphora (Capelli and Bonifay 2007, 554). Now the significant new discoveries at Latrun demonstrate that potters imitating MRA1 amphorae also existed in Cyrenaica. (L.M.)

Archaeometric analyses by optical microscopy (stereomicroscopy and thin section observation under polarizing microscope) were carried out on 30 or so samples of MR1 amphorae and other ceramics (MR8 amphorae and one lamp) recovered at Latrun (Fig. 7). The analyses demonstrated that all the studied samples form a fairly homogeneous group in terms of fabric composition, which can be related to a single workshop or production centre. The clay matrix is rich in iron oxide, with subordinate (variable) carbonate contents. The oxidation degree is high and generally homogeneous in crosssection, which gives a red to orange macroscopic colour to the pottery. Inclusions are abundant, but fine grained (there is no evidence of added temper). They are mostly composed of calcareous microfossils, rounded to angular micritic (fossiliferous) limestone fragments (up to 0.5 mm in size) and quartz inclusions (<0.1 mm). The carbonate elements are generally preserved or poorly dissociated (and often visible to the naked eye as white/yellow spots),

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which suggests relatively low firing temperatures (<900C). Occasional components consist of ironrich clay nodules, chert fragments, plagioclase feldspar, amphibole, mica and epidote.

The raw materials used for the production are compatible with the local/regional geology, characterised by sedimentary sequences. It is noteworthy that the MR1 amphorae made of the possibly local (Cyrenaican) fabric can be distinguished from the other known productions of the same type located in Sicily and possibly Tunisia, which are characterised by volcanic and metamorphic elements or aeolian quartz grains respectively (Capelli and Bonifay 2007). (C.C.)
Acknowledgements Loic Mazou wishes to thank Pascale Ballet, Professor at the University of Poitiers, for initially suggesting the existence of a Cyrenaican MRA 1 production in 2009. Victoria Leitch is gratefully acknowledged for help with the translation from French to English.

Figure 4. Mid Roman Amphora 1: Latrun Amphora 1, base.

Figure 5. Mid Roman Amphora 1: Latrun Amphora 1a, rims and handles.

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Figure 6. (left) Mid Roman Amphora 1: Latrun Amphora 1a. Figure 7. (below) Microphotographs (crossed polars) of the fabrics of two representative MR1 amphora samples (left: 9409/cyr3; right: 9414/ cyr8).

References
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