2.11. Dressel 7-11 `salazon' amphoras

Typology

A diverse series of forms, encompassing Dressel forms 7-11 and 38-9, Beltrán forms I-II and Camulodunum 186. The typology of the class is discussed by Sealey (1985, 77-80). The principal shared characteristics are a flared mouth (perhaps with a hooked rim), a bulbous body and, commonly, a long hollow spike; handles are generally flattened ovals, sharply folded back to meet the body below the rim. Rarely stamped, but tituli picti common on neck, between the handles.

Fabric and technology

A range of pale coloured (cream, off-white, pink and yellow) fabrics with darker cores; generally soft, powdery surfaces, perhaps with a thin slip or wash. Inclusions generally fine, but some with occasional large red inclusions. This last variant may be a particular product of the Cadiz region. Augst TG 18-20, 58-62

Capacity

Variable, perhaps two sizes: 14-18l and 27-33l.

Date

Manufactured from late 1st century BC to the early 2nd century AD. Possibly some pre-conquest importation into Britain.

Source

Principally the southern Iberian coast, where several kiln sites are known and factories for fish products are located. Also some production on the Catalan and Provence coasts (Laubenheimer 1985, 318-9). The manufacture of variants of Dressel 9 and 10 has been reported at Lyon (Dangréaux et al. 1992, type 3) - these are represented by Augst 31-32.

Contents

The tituli picti principally record fish-sauces and salted fish; occasionally defrutum and wine. Bones of species such as Spanish mackerel carried in these amphoras are sometimes recovered from wrecks and other sites. The contents of the Lyonnaise production seems also to have been garum, despite inland location (Martin-Kilcher 1990).

Distribution

Widespread around the western Mediterranean, where there are numerous wrecks (Parker 1992, fig.9) and throughout the northern provinces, including Britain, where the distinctive Cadiz fabric has been widely recognized.

Aliases

Augst classes 22, 23a.b, 24, 25, 26 and 27. Peacock and Williams classes 16 (Dressel 7-11, Beltrán I, Paunier 435), 17 (Beltrán I, Cam. 186A, Schöne-Mau VII), 18 (Dressel 38, Beltrán IIA, Ostia LXIII, Cam. 186C, Pélichet 46, Callender 6) and 19 (Beltrán IIB, Ostia LVIII).

References

Beltrán Lloris 1970; Peacock 1974; Martin-Kilcher 1994, 393-409.

Bibliography

Beltrán Lloris 1970 Beltrán Lloris, M., Las Anforas Romanas en España, Monografias Arqueológicas, Anejos de Caesaraugusta, 8, Zaragoza, 1970.
Dangréaux et al. 1992 Dangréaux, B., Desbat, A., Picon, M. and Schmitt, A., La production d`amphores à Lyon, in Les amphores en Gaule. Production et circulation, F. Laubenheimer ed., Centre de Recherches d'Histoire Ancienne, 116, 37-50, Université de Besançon, Besançon, 1992.
Laubenheimer 1985 Laubenheimer, F., La production des amphores en Gaule Narbonnaise, Centre de Recherches d'Histoire Ancienne, 66, Paris, 1985.
Martin-Kilcher 1990 Martin-Kilcher, S., Fischsaucen und Fischconserven aus dem römischen Gallien, Archéologie Suisse, 13, 37-44, 1990.
Martin-Kilcher 1994 Martin-Kilcher, S., Die römischen Amphoren aus Augst und Kaiseraugst. Ein Beitrag zur römischen Handels- und Kulturgeschichte. 2, Die Amphoren für Wein, Fischsauce, Südfrüchte (Gruppen 2-24) und Gesamtauswertung, Forschungen in Augst, 7, Römermuseum, Augst, 1994.
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 1974 Peacock, D. P. S., Amphorae and the Baetican fish industry, Antiq. J, 54, 232-43, 1974.
Sealey 1985 Sealey, P. R., Amphoras from the 1970 excavations at Colchester Sheepen, British archaeological reports. British series, 142, BAR, Oxford, 1985.