Articles by Simonetta Menchelli

Morphologic and archeometric studies and quantitative analysis were carried out on the common ware pottery from the horrea located in the harbour quarter of Vada Volaterrana (S. Gaetano di Vada, Rosignano Marittimo, Livorno). It is attempted to define the functional, morphologic and technical characteristics of this ware, dated I-VIII cent. AD The relationship between common ware and the other kinds of ware (thin walled, Italian terra sigillata, African terra sigillata etc.) are studied. 64 different fabrics were identified; 65% of the common ware pottery was made on the Northern coast of Etruria; a considerable number of imports from Northern Africa and, in smaller quantities, from Central-Southern Italy and Eastern Mediterranean coasts were also identified. The pattern of trade and the local “Roman” production continued at least up until the end of the VI cent. AD The situation changed in the first half of the VII cent.: Mediterranean commercial trade ended and the local coarse ware pottery, very different from the traditional Roman pottery, became what is recognised as a protomedieval fabric.