American Academy in Rome - Fautores Abstract

THIN-WALLED AND COARSE POTTERY FROM CANTON TICINO (SWITZERLAND). TRADE, EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND OTHER INFLUENCES

Christiane De Micheli Schulthess

This work deals with the study of some aspects of Roman Thin-walled and coarse pottery from the Locarno region of Canton Ticino, a district of Switzerland on the southern side of Central Alps. The pottery considered here derives from cemeteries and, to a lesser extent, the settlements of the Locarno region, which contains by far the largest number of burials with datable grave-goods in the Canton. The Roman graves from the region range from the beginning of the 1st century AD to the end of the 4th century AD, with a concentration in the 1st and 2nd centuries. The analysis of coarse and Thin-walled pottery has highlighted the potential of information of these materials, considering various aspects such as forms, fabrics, decoration, chronology, origin and distribution.

The purpose of this work is to identify local and imported products among the pottery from the study area, highlighting trade connections. In terms of comparanda, vessels from the neighboring regions (Varese, Como, Milan, etc.), Lombardy and Piemonte, and the regions north of the Alps have been considered. The production areas outside the study area have been suggested by the presence of kilns, kiln wasters or the concentration of particular forms. Local products can be suggested based upon their concentration, but no kilns or kiln wasters have been found in the study area, while it was not possible to perform laboratory analyses of the fabrics. Parallels with finds from the Verbano region and western Lombardy-eastern Piemonte, in particular the area between the Sesia, Po and Adda rivers were highlighted. Lakes Verbano and Lario lead to the alpine passes and linked the Verbano area to the Raetic and Rhine regions. The same area was easily linked to main centers of the eastern Po region as far as Aquileia and Ravenna by the Po River.