2.16. North African cylindrical amphoras

Typology

Cylindrical amphora with short straight neck, small thickened or rounded rim and sharply bent handles; long body with short spike, which may be either hollow (Africana I) or solid, with slightly bulging profile (Africana II). Occasionally stamped on the neck.

Fabric and technology

Hard, red (Munsell 2.5YR 6/6) fabric with darker (perhaps black) surfaces covered with a thin white `wash', apparently the result of brushing saline water on the unfired vessel (Peacock 1984); moderate or abundant fine quartz and white limestone inclusions, some showing reaction rims. Augst TG 76-7

Capacity

c. 60l (for the Africana Grande).

Date

Produced from the early 2nd century until at least the late 4th century. Imports into Britain commence by the mid-2nd century, but most commonly in the 3rd and 4th centuries. Some importation into western Britain in the post-Roman period.

Source

Central Tunisia, the Roman province of Byzacena (hence sometimes known as Byzacena amphoras).

Contents

Principally olive-oil, but also fish-sauces.

Distribution

Widespread around the western Mediterranean, where there are a number of wrecks (Parker 1992, fig.14); patchy distribution in the northern provinces, where very few have been identified in Gaul, but increasing numbers from Britain.

Aliases

Augst classes 65 and 66. Keay classes III, III A, III B, IV-VII, IV, V, V BIS, VI and VII. Peacock and Williams classes 33 (Africana I - Piccolo, Beltrán 57, Ostia IV, Keay III) and 34 (Africana II - Grande, Beltrán 56, Ostia III, Keay IV-VII).

References

Peacock 1977, 270-2.

Bibliography

Parker 1992 Parker, A. J., Ancient shipwrecks of the Mediterranean and the Roman Provinces, British archaeological reports. International series, 580, Tempus Reparatum, Oxford, 1992.
Peacock 1977 Peacock, D. P. S., Roman amphorae: typology, fabric and origin, in Méthodes classiques et méthodes formelles dans l'etude des amphores, G. Vallet ed., Collection de l'École Française de Rome, 32, 261-78, École Française de Rome, Rome, 1977.
Peacock 1984 Peacock, D. P. S., Appendix 1. Seawater, salt and ceramics, in The Avenue du President Habib Bourguiba, Salammbo: The Pottery and other ceramic objects from the site, M. G. Fulford and D. P. S. Peacock ed., Excavations at Carthage: The British Mission, I,2, 263-4, British Academy, 1984.