This research aims to study the trade networks of the Roman period in three different Italian regions: the Pontine region, the Potenza valley and the Metapontine region. A database was created...Show moreThis research aims to study the trade networks of the Roman period in three different Italian regions: the Pontine region, the Potenza valley and the Metapontine region. A database was created previously, consisting of the compiled data on ceramics sherds encountered during three surveys in each respective region. Assessing where these ceramics were produced, and how the different provenances are distributed throughout the landscape, gives insight into how the regions connected to trade routes, and how ceramics imported along these routes were distributed throughout the landscape. To this end, the proportions of ceramic provenances were visualised for each region and subsequently broken down for the Archaic, Republican, Imperial and Late Antique periods. The patterns observed in provenance proportions and sherd distributions across regions suggest that different regions were affected differently by the changes associated with the increased integration of the Roman economy in the Imperial Period. These changes appear to be reflected in the increased consumption of imported African ceramics. This is in contrast to more locally produced Italian sherds, which maintain a more consistent presence. These trends can be observed to a certain degree in all regions, although the changes are particularly pronounced in the Pontine region. These results lead to the following tentative theory: the Pontine region, as a more centrally located destination, was better connected to more distant trade routes, and thus affected more readily by the large-scale societal and political shifts of the Imperial period. Another notable observation is the increased variance in sherds provenances in the Potenza valley as compared to the Pontine region. This could be potentially explained by the theory that the Potenza valley, as a more isolated and decentral region, relied more on more “off the cuff” trade, while the Pontine region relied more on centrally organised, “streamlined” trade networks. Finally, ceramics imported from outside the Italian peninsula tended to be found at or near the coast in all regions, indicating that ceramics traded along more distant routes were exchanged less in intraregional networks extending further inland. Despite multiple weaknesses, which were mainly related to the necessary standardisation of the database and the resulting loss of detail, this research has granted new insight into the discussion around the degree of integration in the Roman economy and paints a more nuanced image that differs from region to region.Show less
Survey archaeology has often been used to study processes of urbanization and centralization in Roman Italy. Yet, most of the research on this topic has focussed on regional patterns, without...Show moreSurvey archaeology has often been used to study processes of urbanization and centralization in Roman Italy. Yet, most of the research on this topic has focussed on regional patterns, without comparing data from multiple survey projects. In this thesis, I present my research in which I look into survey data from two Italian regions: the Biferno Valley and the Metaponto region. With the help of Tymon de Haas’ Access database on survey projects in Italy, I mapped out rural settlements in order to gain understanding in their distribution patterns in Roman Imperial times and why they occurred. Through spatial analyses, such as the distance to nearest hub and cluster analysis, in combination with statistical tests, like the Monte-Carlo simulation and chi-square test, I was able to find spatial patterns in the distribution of rural settlements in the two research areas. I found that rural sites in the Biferno Valley clustered closely around roads and cities. In the Metaponto region, rural sites were also nearby major roads, but showed no attraction to urban centres. I argue that this difference is a result of various local circumstances. Socio-political processes in the past, terrain and agricultural strategies all influenced where rural sites continued to be occupied. These results show that the Roman agricultural economy was a patchwork of regions with their own approach to agriculture. In doing so, this research stresses how beneficial comparative studies are for our understanding of the Roman agricultural economy.Show less
This thesis takes a look at a specific cooking ware vessel found during the survey campaigns of the Colonial Landscape Project; the baking cover. The function of this vessel was to prepare food...Show moreThis thesis takes a look at a specific cooking ware vessel found during the survey campaigns of the Colonial Landscape Project; the baking cover. The function of this vessel was to prepare food underneath. It starts with the framework as given by Cubberley et al. (1988), in which they relate differences in flange sizes to different time periods. Afterwards, it gives a reference collection with samples of baking covers found at different sites located in Central Italy. With these two starting points, it will analyse the baking covers found during the survey campaigns of the Colonial Landscape Project based on typology, sizes and decorations. At the end, a catalogue will be provided in which both collections, from the Central Italian reference collection and from the Colonial Landscape Project, are included which could be used as a reference collection when classifying and dating baking cover fragments and/or vessels.Show less
