POTTERY TYPES FROM THE VALETUDINARIUM AT NOVAE

Piotr Dyczek

One of the most interesting structures discovered at Novae, fortress of legio I Italica, is the legionary hospital - valetudinarium. In recent years, many different types of pottery have been found in this building. Most of it filled small vestibules. In our opinion, these small rooms were a kind of storage area for personal belongings, medicines, pottery used in medical purposes and for food. In 2001 we found small pits with walls made of tiles in one of the antechambers that contained different kind of pottery, and censers with pieces of resin. The main types of pottery were different kinds of amphorae, tablewares and cooking wares. A few fragments of terra sigillata, Thin-walled ware and one imitation in clay of handle of a casserole, were found, too. The main types of amphorae were a Zeest 90 bearing an interesting dipinto, Dr. 2-4, Cam. 184, Dr. 43 and others. Most of the table pottery were en barbotine bowls, produced in local pottery centers in Pavlikeni and Butovo. There was a small group of cooking wares. This is an interesting problem because it is connected with the problem of supply and organization of a legionary hospital. Of particular interest was the discovery of a kind of kitchen in one portico of the hospital. Other rooms were used to store amphorae.

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