The Terra Sigilata Africana in Recent Studies Scenario: Production, Circulation and Port Structures

Abstract

The African Terra Sigillata (ARSW), produced since the end  of the Ist century  A.D., reached  great  importance  from  the  IIIth-IVth centuries  A.D.  In  the  version  of  high  quality tableware  and  lamps,  it  was  distributed  both  regionally  and  through  well-established  trade routes  in  the  Mediterranean  basin.Recent  studies  on production,  dating  and  distribution  go through numerous discussions and reviews of the main Mediterranean ceramic assemblies, with a  view  to  solving  typology  and  chronology  problems  in  addition  to  the  location  of  production centers.  This  line  of  research  leads  to  the  interpretation  of  the  role  of sigillata ceramics associated with the production and consumption of African food products, such as wheat, olive oil,  wine  and  fish  brine (salsamenta, garum).  As  a  result,  there  is  a wide  range  of  researches calling attention to the limits of classical models of African ceramics by offering accurate reviews of dating, origin and content of vessels, especially with archaeometric methods. New issues and difficulties are faced  in  order  to  explain  the  methods  of  production  and  commercialization  of sigillata and  African  amphorae  in  the  Mediterranean,  having  as  an  important  element  the African  domestic  market,  with  food  products  of  exclusive  regional  circulation  associated  with vessels and amphorae with local typologies. These questions intertwine with and converge to the problem of the port structure necessary for the flow of African production. Introductory studies evaluate  ship  flows  and  suggest their  routes  in  the  Mediterranean  basin,  however,  relevant researches in this context reveal the role of artificial ports. Although this evidence was neglected for   a   long   time,   it   has   been   now demonstrated that artificial   ports   were not   only the overwhelming   majority   but   also determinant   in   the   context   in   which   relations   between connectivity  and  economic  activities  in  the Late  Roman  Period  were  carried  out.The  article offers an overview of this debate.