2.9. Haltern 70 amphoras

Typology

Cylindrical amphora with collared rim, oval handles with deep vertical groove and solid conical spike. Rarely stamped; but a few Haltern 70 stamps can be paralleled on Dressel 20, suggesting production in the same workshops.

Fabric and technology

Similar to the fabric of the early Baetican oil amphoras. Augst TG 1-3. Body sherds not always distinguishable.

Capacity

Average 30l.

Date

Present in Augustan contexts (e.g. Haltern) but post-conquest in Britain, up to c. AD 70.

Source

The Guadalquivir valley (as Dressel 20s).

Contents

Several painted inscriptions record defrutum or olives preserved in defrutum as the contents of the Haltern 70. Although this much is clear, there is some dispute about whether defrutum should be considered as a wine or a non-alcoholic sweet syrup (the current view is summarized by Sealey 1985, 62-3).

Distribution

Widespread, but relatively sparse, around western Mediterranean (Colls et al. 1977, 36-8); in Gaul and Germany particularly common along the Rhône-Rhine axis, but also in western France (e.g.Siraudeau 1988, 183-4) and Britain.

Aliases

Augst class 19. Peacock and Williams class 15 (Cam. 185A, Callender 9).

References

Colls et al. 1977, 33-8 is first major discussion of the type; also Sealey 1985, 59-66. On the identity of defrutum see Parker and Price 1981; for the contrary view van der Werff 1984, 380-1, with refs.

Bibliography

Colls et al. 1977 Colls, D., Étienne, R., Lequément, R., Liou, B. and Mayet, F., L'Épave Port-Vendres II et le Commerce de la Bétique à l'Époque de Claude, Archaeonautica, 1, 1-143, 1977.
Parker and Price 1981 Parker, A. J. and Price, J., Spanish exports of the Claudian period: the significance of the Port-Vendres II wreck reconsidered, IJNA, 10, 221-8, 1981.
Sealey 1985 Sealey, P. R., Amphoras from the 1970 excavations at Colchester Sheepen, British archaeological reports. British series, 142, BAR, Oxford, 1985.
Siraudeau 1988 Siraudeau, J., Amphores romaines des sites Angevins et leur contexte archéologique, Corpus des amphores découvertes dans l'ouest de la France, 2, 1988.
van der Werff 1984 van der Werff, J. H., Roman amphoras at Nijmegen - a preliminary report, Berichten van de Rijksdienst voor het Oudheidkundig Bodemonderzoek, 34, 347-87, 1984.