GRAFFITI ON CERAMICS FROM THE HINTERLAND OF CCAA

Tünde Kaszab-Olschewski

This poster presents several finds of Roman ceramics with graffiti. They come from two villae rusticae (HA 512; HA 516 - both unpublished) and are in addition to some already published samples from neighboring villae rusticae, found in the last 20 years. The site is located in the hinterland of the CCAA (Cologne) in southern Germania Inferior. Because the area lacks stone, there are few inscriptions. So, these graffiti are welcome as a written source for the civilian, rural settlement, even if their meaning cannot compete with other primary sources.

The graffiti were incised as a secondary inscription after firing, using a sharp device, like a pencil or a stilus. The material can be subdivided according to different attributes: considering the kind of wares - mainly fine ware, like terra sigillata (Samian ware), Belgian ware, or smooth-walled, clay-grounded ware. Sporadically, there are soft-fired, clay-grounded heavy ceramics like dolia or mortaria with graffiti. This distinction allows us to date the material using ceramic typologies. With respect to the graffiti's meaning, e.g. user's/owner's graffiti or stated capacity or contents, the former could give hints on the educational level and maybe ethnic origin of the writer, while the latter might inform us about Roman storage and eating habits.

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