Red Slip Wares were the most common fine ware during the Late Roman Period. A comprehensive overview of different attributes across the entire Roman Empire has been lacking, with most research...Show moreRed Slip Wares were the most common fine ware during the Late Roman Period. A comprehensive overview of different attributes across the entire Roman Empire has been lacking, with most research focusing only on pottery type -and sometimes dates as well- in a smaller area. The whole Roman Empire was interconnected and as such any traded goods cannot be seperated from the Mediterranean-wide trade networks, leading to a need to pool research of Red Slip Wares to obtain an overview of the entire area. Research regarding vessel form and decoration has been especially limited. Different previous spatial studies of Red Slip Wares over smaller areas were combined and supplemented with extra data from other papers. All Red Slip Wares were mostly limited to coastal regions. African Red Slip Ware (ARSW) was used in all areas of the Roman Empire, and was also distributed farther inland. Use of Phocaean Red Slip Ware (PRSW) was limited to the Mediterranean, with a focus on the eastern Mediterranean and in particular the coastal region of the Aegaean. Cypriot Red Slip Ware (CRSW) is almost exclusively found in the eastern Mediterranean, with the highest numbers being recorded on Cyprus and in Israel and Palestine. Production peaks for ARSW are in the 4th and 5th century. Those for PRSW and CRSW are in the 5th and 6th century, while those for Sagalassos Red Slip Ware (SRSW) are in the 2nd and 3rd century. Spatial distribution is most wide-spread in the 4th and 5th centuries, the 7th century showing a reduction in the popularity of all Red Slip Wares. Dishes and shallow bowls were the most popular vessel forms. All vessel forms were used throughout most or all areas of the Roman Empire, with the exception of closed forms and lids which were limited to the western Mediterranean. No spatial correlation could be found for decoration. Geometrical, floral and botanical decoration was the most common in ARSW from the 2nd to 5th century AD, with animal, human, religious and mythical decoration being the most popular in the 6th century. Geometric decoration is the most common on SRSW throughout its manufacturing period.Show less
