2.13. Camulodunum 189 ('carrot') amphoras

Typology

Small conical amphora with horizontal rilling covering the outer surface (hence `carrot'); two small loop handles just below the rim. On many examples the rilling is angular and formed with a square cut tool.

Fabric and technology

Hard, red-brown or brick-red (Munsell 2.5YR 6/8 or 10YR 4/6) sandy fabric, sometimes with a grey core; some vessels are finer-textured and may have a thin pale yellow slip. Augst TG 68 Analysis of sand temper suggests source in a desert region (Shackley 1975, 57-9).

Capacity

2-3l.

Date

Augustan at Oberaden, but post-conquest in Britain, up to c. AD 100.

Contents

A dipinto from Carlisle, apparently on a vessel of this form, reads

KOYK

in Greek letters, an abbreviated reference to κουκια the fruit of the doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica). Other varieties of dried fruits, such as dates, may also have been carried.

Source

The south-east Mediterranean, perhaps Egypt.

Distribution

Despite probable eastern origin, the majority of published examples are from the western Empire, particularly from Rhineland and Britain, and often on military sites. Also recorded from the Rhône valley, Italy and Algeria.

Aliases

Augst class 44. Peacock and Williams class 12 (Carrot, Schöne-Mau XV).

References

(Reusch 1970; Sealey 1985, 87-90. On contents and origin: Tomlin 1992.

Notes

A related form, the Kingsholm 117 ( ) has a similar fabric to C189, but larger body diameter; probably indistinguishable in small sherds. This type has been identified on a few sites in Britain and there are examples from two wrecks on the Provence coast (Parker 1992, nos. 374, 1174). One of these contained dates. Martin-Kilcher describes several further minor forms of rilled amphora in the same ware (Augst forms 46-7).

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.
Reusch 1970 Reusch, W., Kleine, spitzkonische amphoren, SaalburgJb, 27, 54-62, 1970.
Sealey 1985 Sealey, P. R., Amphoras from the 1970 excavations at Colchester Sheepen, British archaeological reports. British series, 142, BAR, Oxford, 1985.
Shackley 1975 Shackley, M. L., Archaeological sediments: a survey of analytical methods, Butterworths, London, 1975.
Tomlin 1992 Tomlin, R. S. O., The Roman `carrot' amphora and its Egyptian provenance, J Egyptian Archaeol, 78, 307-12, 1992.