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17 - Pottery

from Part II - Artefacts and Evidence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2025

Leonard V. Rutgers
Affiliation:
Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands
Neil Christie
Affiliation:
University of Leicester
Robin M. Jensen
Affiliation:
University of Notre Dame, Indiana
Jodi Magness
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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Summary

This chapter examines pottery in Late Antiquity, with a particular focus on chronology and the economic and social significance of pottery across the Mediterranean. It analyses various categories of ceramics, including fine wares, coarse wares, amphorae and lamps, using typological classification, archaeometry and distribution patterns to trace their evolution from the third to the seventh century. At the heart of the discussion is the argument that late antique pottery serves as a key indicator of economic and cultural continuity rather than decline. The study highlights the dominance of African Red Slip Ware (ARS) in the Western Mediterranean, charting its peak production and widespread distribution from the late third to the seventh century. It also explores how ARS workshops in Carthage and Byzacena continued to innovate, introducing new forms and Christian motifs to adapt to changing political landscapes. Expanding on regional variations, the chapter also examines how eastern Mediterranean fine wares experienced a later resurgence, with Cypriot and Phocaean Red Slip Wares becoming more prominent in the fifth and sixth centuries. By demonstrating how amphora production patterns reflect shifts in trade networks and agricultural production, particularly in the transport of wine, oil and fish products, the chapter documents the vital role of pottery in understanding economic and social transformations in Late Antiquity.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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  • Pottery
  • Edited by Leonard V. Rutgers, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands, Neil Christie, University of Leicester, Robin M. Jensen, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, Jodi Magness, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Book: The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Late Antique Art and Archaeology
  • Online publication: 04 July 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009535090.018
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  • Pottery
  • Edited by Leonard V. Rutgers, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands, Neil Christie, University of Leicester, Robin M. Jensen, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, Jodi Magness, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Book: The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Late Antique Art and Archaeology
  • Online publication: 04 July 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009535090.018
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Pottery
  • Edited by Leonard V. Rutgers, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands, Neil Christie, University of Leicester, Robin M. Jensen, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, Jodi Magness, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Book: The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Late Antique Art and Archaeology
  • Online publication: 04 July 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009535090.018
Available formats
×