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Roman Amphorae from Canterbury

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2011

Paul Arthur
Paul Arthur
Affiliation:
Centro per l'Archeologia Medievale Università di Salerno, Italy
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Extract

This paper is intended as an attempt to assess the importance of the importation of overseas foodstuffs and other organic commodities to Canterbury during the late Iron Age and Roman periods through the evidence of amphorae. The material has been collected during the programme of excavations conducted by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust at the following sites around the town (FIG. I); Rosemary Lane Car Park (The Castle Vol. i of the Archaeology of Canterbury series); 77–9 Castle Street, 3 Beer Cart Lane, 69a Stour Street (CBR I–IV in Vol. 6 forthcoming); 16 Watling Street and Marlowe Car Park sites (MI–IV in Vol. 5 forthcoming); St. Gabriel's Chapel and Linacre Gardens in the Cathedral Precincts (Vol. 4 forthcoming); the Mint Yard and ‘Aula Nova’ (Norman Staircase) also in the Precincts (Vol. 3 forthcoming); St. Radigund's Street (Church Lane, Vol. 2). Although excavations are still in progress it was felt wise to attempt an analysis of all the material recovered only up to the excavation of the Marlowe IV site in 1980, the 234 kg of amphorae sherds unearthed up to that date being regarded as a sufficiently large sample to be statistically reliable, in general terms, towards reconstructing the pattern of amphora importation into the town. Further excavations might yield further types and help to refine the quantified figures, although they should be of little overall consequence.

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Britannia , Volume 17 , November 1986, pp. 239 - 258
Copyright
Copyright © Paul Arthur 1986. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

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References

1 I am most grateful to Dr Lynn Pitts and Professor S.S. Frere for providing me with data relating to amphorae from the Canterbury Excavation Committee's sites (1946–60). Further Dressel IB's are represented (in addition to the Trust's examples) together with a good number of Dressel 20's and other forms represented in this report. In no way does this other material conflict with the general trends and conclusions noted in this present study.

2 Unfortunately, the study of amphorae has proceeded sporadically in various countries leading to multiplication of denominations for individual types. For example, Pelichet Type 46 in this report may be found referred to in other texts as Beltran IIB, Dressel 38/39 or Camulodunum 186. In this text, I have employed the most frequently used terms.

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95 This paper was substantially completed in March 1983.