THE COARSEWARE FROM THE ROMAN VILLA AT SÃO CUCUFATE (BEJA, PORTUGAL)

Ines Vaz Pinto

This poster will summarize the main aspects of a PhD research on the coarse ware of the Roman villa at São Cucufate (Beja, Portugal). The site was excavated by a Portuguese-French team between 1979-1986 and the final publication based its conclusions on the architecture and stratigraphy and on the study of coins, fine wares and amphorae, leaving aside the coarseware that represents at least 75% of all the ceramics. In this research all the identifiable rim and base fragments were studied forming a sample of over 12,194 individuals. In the absence of known regional production centers, their interpretation required a methodology able to produce a typology of the fabrics and a typology of the forms allowing a different set of conclusions in terms of provenience, chronological evolution and function.

The study of the fabrics led to the definition of different fabrics and petrographic groups and together with other criteria as frequency and variety of forms brought up evidence of a very dynamic regional pottery production as well as minor imports from Baetica and other coastal areas of Lusitania. The chronological study showed, for example, that the types of fabrics consumed in the villa tend to diversify with time and that although coarse ware forms tend to be very conservative, different associations and proportions of types could be a dating element. The forms and variants were grouped in morphological-functional categories and an analysis according to function showed, among other things, the importance of cooking wares and the predominance of coarse ware also in food preparation and storage.

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