American Academy in Rome - Fautores Abstract

IMPORTS OF ITALIAN SIGILLATA, THIN-WALLED POTTERY AND UTILITARIAN WARE AT THE VILLA OF LIVIA, PRIMA PORTA, C. 20 B.C. - A.D. 250

Allan Klynne and Ezequiel M. Pinto-Guillaume

Large amounts of pottery, ranging from table wares to cooking vessels and transport amphorae, were found at the Villa of Livia in the northern suburbs of Rome, during the Prima Porta Garden Archeological Project (1996-1999), conducted by the Swedish Institute in Rome in collaboration with the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Roma. Of central interest are two rich deposits, one constituting a partially undisturbed refuse tip, the other a closed find of reused rubbish, dumped into a channel. Dating to the late Augustan and Neronian times respectively, the high rate of preservation and size of the assemblages, allow for a detailed study of the changes in frequency of ceramic classes, forms, and fabrics, during the Early Principate.

As for the Italian sigillata, it was observed that central Italian potters dominate the record during the Augustan period. This was inferred not only from stamps with known or supposed origin, but also from chemical analysis of selected fabrics. The record suggests that these workshops, for which the evidence is scarce in the northern provinces as well as in North Africa and other places, had a more prominent position of the total manufacturing of Italian sigillata than hitherto assumed. Supposedly, the main target of production was the Urbs itself.

Thin-walled ware is another ceramic category present at the Villa of Livia, which has evidenced patterns of commerce. Typological as well as visual analyses have shown that, even though a large part of the Thin-walled ware was produced at a ceramic kiln located in the vicinity of Livia's villa, there are a number of forms that seem to have had a different provenance. Forms Marabini IV = Ricci 1/19 and Marabini LI for example, found in a partially undisturbed refuse area are of a finer quality and were probably made in Rome.

Still regarding imports, other important observations have been given by the study of Kitchen and Table Wares found in the gardens. Fabric analyses and typological studies show that the greater part of the Utilitarian Ware had a regional rather than a local provenance, in contrast to the Thin-walled ware. However, an interesting aspect has come to light in the analysis of some kitchen ware forms which were found in the gardens and which are usually attributed to a North African production. A pottery kiln, located just 700 meters from the Villa of Livia, manufactured two of the most common forms pertaining to this type of ware: Ostia I, fig. 261 and Hayes 197. This raises the question of whether we are witnessing local or extra-regional production.