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11 Pottery Production in Pompeii, Step by Step: From Excavations to Experimental Archaeology

  • Laetitia Cavassa , Guilhem Chapelin , Alberto De Bonis , Chiara Germinario , Celestino Grifa , Bastien Lemaire , Emilie Mannocci , Fabrice Paul and Marie Pawlowicz
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Technology, Crafting and Artisanal Networks in the Greek and Roman World
This chapter is in the book Technology, Crafting and Artisanal Networks in the Greek and Roman World

Abstract

Between 2012 and 2017, two potters’ workshops were excavated that had been active in 79 A.D. on the day when Vesuvius erupted. The first, discovered in 1838, lies outside the city walls in the necropolis sector in front of the Herculaneum Gate. The second, discovered in 1958, is within the city, installed within a domus near the Nocera Gate. Recent research has focused on the extensive excavations of these two establishments to clarify the production, chronology, and organization of each workshop. The information collected on these two workshops, coupled with archaeometric analysis, made it possible to reconstruct the operating sequence used by the Pompeian potters at these sites in 79 A.D., from processing of raw material to product distribution. The experimental approach concentrated on the potter’s wheels. Five have been identified in Pompeii, four in the Herculaneum Gate workshop and one in the Nocera Gate workshop. Combining excavated material, iconographical depictions, and comparative evidence from other sites, we reconstructed one potter’s wheel to better understand its mechanism and operation. We will present the various stages of this experiment: from the details of the structure to the results obtained, both successes and failures. We will conclude with a virtual rendering of one workshop, placing each element in its location and offering a reconstruction of one kiln and the potter’s wheel.

Abstract

Between 2012 and 2017, two potters’ workshops were excavated that had been active in 79 A.D. on the day when Vesuvius erupted. The first, discovered in 1838, lies outside the city walls in the necropolis sector in front of the Herculaneum Gate. The second, discovered in 1958, is within the city, installed within a domus near the Nocera Gate. Recent research has focused on the extensive excavations of these two establishments to clarify the production, chronology, and organization of each workshop. The information collected on these two workshops, coupled with archaeometric analysis, made it possible to reconstruct the operating sequence used by the Pompeian potters at these sites in 79 A.D., from processing of raw material to product distribution. The experimental approach concentrated on the potter’s wheels. Five have been identified in Pompeii, four in the Herculaneum Gate workshop and one in the Nocera Gate workshop. Combining excavated material, iconographical depictions, and comparative evidence from other sites, we reconstructed one potter’s wheel to better understand its mechanism and operation. We will present the various stages of this experiment: from the details of the structure to the results obtained, both successes and failures. We will conclude with a virtual rendering of one workshop, placing each element in its location and offering a reconstruction of one kiln and the potter’s wheel.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Acknowledgements V
  3. Editorial Board VI
  4. Contents VII
  5. Introduction
  6. 1 The A.G.A.T.H.O.C.L.E.S. Project and Beyond: Archaeology of Gesture and Material Consciousness in Ceramic Studies 1
  7. Section I: The Shapes of Clay: Manufacturing and Local Traditions
  8. 2 What Makes Aeginetan Cooking Pots So Special? Technological Choices in Ancient Aegina’s Pottery Production 13
  9. 3 Production Relationships between Attic Black-glazed and Figured Pottery 25
  10. 4 Potters in South Italian Red-Figured Workshops: An Overview 35
  11. 5 Clay Crafting, Hand Modeling: A Coroplastic Perspective. Case-Studies from Sicily and Magna Graecia 49
  12. 6 The Manufacture of “Thickened-edge” Roof Tiles between Unintentional Traces and Intentional Marks: The Case of the Hellenistic-Roman Temple in Agrigento 69
  13. 7 Teanum Ware Pottery from Loc. Cappella Marcella (Castrocielo, Frosinone) 79
  14. Section II: Populating the Ancient Pottery Industry
  15. 8 Timing Euxitheos and Euphronios: Energetics and the Scale of Production in the Athenian Potters’ Quarters 91
  16. 9 Reconstructing the Scale of Athenian Vase-Painting Workshops 111
  17. 10 Potters’ Tools at the Kerameikos of Selinous 125
  18. 11 Pottery Production in Pompeii, Step by Step: From Excavations to Experimental Archaeology 133
  19. 12 Republican Kilns at Pollentia-Urbs Salvia: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Study of a Local Ceramic Production 147
  20. Section III: Workshop Recipies and Craft Production Systems: Technologies Magnified
  21. 13 Magnific Magnification at Locri Epizephyrii: An Insight into the Surface of Western Red-figured Vases 157
  22. 14 Examining the Red and Black Surfaces of Apulian Red-figured Pottery: Raw Materials and Technological Features 173
  23. 15 Reconstructing Pottery Production in Archaic Rome and Latium: Integrating Traditional Approach and Archaeometry 183
  24. 16 Black-glazed Pottery from Locri Epizephyrii: New Evidence from the Technological Study of the Local Hellenistic Production 193
  25. 17 Roof Tiles with the ΣΩΣΗΝΟΣ Stamp: Calabrian Production in Sicily 199
  26. 18 Preliminary Observations on the Interdisciplinary Project of Roman Amphorae from the Territory of Ostia 207
  27. 19 A True Melting Pot: The Production of Cooking Ware at Fregellae, Southern Lazio (Italy), between the 4th and the 2nd Centuries B.C. 213
  28. Section IV: From Invisible to Visible: Artisanal Gestures, Ontologies, and Ceramic Networks
  29. 20 From Micro to Macro and Vice Versa: Technology Studies and Network Analysis on Red-figured Vase Production between Sicily and Campania 223
  30. 21 The Craft of Centuripe Vases: Techniques, Colors, Patterns 241
  31. 22 Kerameikos.org and Digital Accessibility for Ancient Greek Vases 255
  32. 23 New Perspectives in the Study of Western Greek Amphorae 269
  33. 24 Economic Principles in the Roman Economy: Modelling Mass Ceramic Production and Trade 285
  34. 25 Looking for the Lost Decoration of an Apulian Volute Krater by the Painter of Sèvres 1 303
  35. Section V: Craftspeople’s Mobility and Knowledge Transfer: Distribution and Statistics
  36. 26 Technology Transfer and Mobility During the Period of Greek Migrations to Italy (8th to 6th Centuries B.C.): Insights from Coarse ware Pottery 313
  37. 27 Regional Markets and Distribution Patterns of Laconian Pottery in Crete and Beyond: The Aeginetan Hypothesis (6th–5th Centuries B.C.) 327
  38. 28 Consumers and Vases in Early South Italian Vase-Painting 347
  39. 29 Hybridity and Exchange Models in Campania: The Case of Ionian Cups from Ancient Cumae 357
  40. 30 East Greek Inspirations on Attic Black-figured Pottery: The Implications for Clients and Trade Networks 365
  41. Epilogue
  42. 31 Greek and Roman Ceramic Producers: Operational Knowledge and Networked Mobilities 373
  43. List of Contributors 381
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111189635-011

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Acknowledgements V
  3. Editorial Board VI
  4. Contents VII
  5. Introduction
  6. 1 The A.G.A.T.H.O.C.L.E.S. Project and Beyond: Archaeology of Gesture and Material Consciousness in Ceramic Studies 1
  7. Section I: The Shapes of Clay: Manufacturing and Local Traditions
  8. 2 What Makes Aeginetan Cooking Pots So Special? Technological Choices in Ancient Aegina’s Pottery Production 13
  9. 3 Production Relationships between Attic Black-glazed and Figured Pottery 25
  10. 4 Potters in South Italian Red-Figured Workshops: An Overview 35
  11. 5 Clay Crafting, Hand Modeling: A Coroplastic Perspective. Case-Studies from Sicily and Magna Graecia 49
  12. 6 The Manufacture of “Thickened-edge” Roof Tiles between Unintentional Traces and Intentional Marks: The Case of the Hellenistic-Roman Temple in Agrigento 69
  13. 7 Teanum Ware Pottery from Loc. Cappella Marcella (Castrocielo, Frosinone) 79
  14. Section II: Populating the Ancient Pottery Industry
  15. 8 Timing Euxitheos and Euphronios: Energetics and the Scale of Production in the Athenian Potters’ Quarters 91
  16. 9 Reconstructing the Scale of Athenian Vase-Painting Workshops 111
  17. 10 Potters’ Tools at the Kerameikos of Selinous 125
  18. 11 Pottery Production in Pompeii, Step by Step: From Excavations to Experimental Archaeology 133
  19. 12 Republican Kilns at Pollentia-Urbs Salvia: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Study of a Local Ceramic Production 147
  20. Section III: Workshop Recipies and Craft Production Systems: Technologies Magnified
  21. 13 Magnific Magnification at Locri Epizephyrii: An Insight into the Surface of Western Red-figured Vases 157
  22. 14 Examining the Red and Black Surfaces of Apulian Red-figured Pottery: Raw Materials and Technological Features 173
  23. 15 Reconstructing Pottery Production in Archaic Rome and Latium: Integrating Traditional Approach and Archaeometry 183
  24. 16 Black-glazed Pottery from Locri Epizephyrii: New Evidence from the Technological Study of the Local Hellenistic Production 193
  25. 17 Roof Tiles with the ΣΩΣΗΝΟΣ Stamp: Calabrian Production in Sicily 199
  26. 18 Preliminary Observations on the Interdisciplinary Project of Roman Amphorae from the Territory of Ostia 207
  27. 19 A True Melting Pot: The Production of Cooking Ware at Fregellae, Southern Lazio (Italy), between the 4th and the 2nd Centuries B.C. 213
  28. Section IV: From Invisible to Visible: Artisanal Gestures, Ontologies, and Ceramic Networks
  29. 20 From Micro to Macro and Vice Versa: Technology Studies and Network Analysis on Red-figured Vase Production between Sicily and Campania 223
  30. 21 The Craft of Centuripe Vases: Techniques, Colors, Patterns 241
  31. 22 Kerameikos.org and Digital Accessibility for Ancient Greek Vases 255
  32. 23 New Perspectives in the Study of Western Greek Amphorae 269
  33. 24 Economic Principles in the Roman Economy: Modelling Mass Ceramic Production and Trade 285
  34. 25 Looking for the Lost Decoration of an Apulian Volute Krater by the Painter of Sèvres 1 303
  35. Section V: Craftspeople’s Mobility and Knowledge Transfer: Distribution and Statistics
  36. 26 Technology Transfer and Mobility During the Period of Greek Migrations to Italy (8th to 6th Centuries B.C.): Insights from Coarse ware Pottery 313
  37. 27 Regional Markets and Distribution Patterns of Laconian Pottery in Crete and Beyond: The Aeginetan Hypothesis (6th–5th Centuries B.C.) 327
  38. 28 Consumers and Vases in Early South Italian Vase-Painting 347
  39. 29 Hybridity and Exchange Models in Campania: The Case of Ionian Cups from Ancient Cumae 357
  40. 30 East Greek Inspirations on Attic Black-figured Pottery: The Implications for Clients and Trade Networks 365
  41. Epilogue
  42. 31 Greek and Roman Ceramic Producers: Operational Knowledge and Networked Mobilities 373
  43. List of Contributors 381
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