The transport amphorae from Euesperides. The maritime trade of a Cyrenaican city 400-250 BC. FULL TEXT AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD By Kristian Göransson

https://www.academia.edu/628510/The_transport_amphorae_from_Euesperides_The_maritime_trade_of_a_Cyrenaican_city_400_250_BC_FULL_TEXT_AVAILABLE_FOR_FREE_DOWNLOAD?nav_from=9797fa46-f193-4e2b-bff8-9de42bfec549 This book is the publication of the author's doctoral thesis, publicly defended at Lund University 3 March 2007. ABSTRACT The study aims at investigating the ancient trade in amphora-borne commodities based on a quantitative analysis of forms and fabrics of amphorae from the 1999-2006 excavations at the Greek city of Euesperides, modern Benghazi in Libya. Amphorae are large, pottery containers for the transportation over sea of mainly liquid food products like wine and olive oil, but also processed fish. The shape of a typical transport amphora with a pointed or rounded toe is unsuitable for storage, but ideal for transportation in the hull of a ship, where the vessels could be tightly packed. Once the amphorae had reached their destinations they were emptied of their contents and most often discarded, like bottles today. Euesperides imported amphora-borne commodities on a large scale and over long distances, from the Aegean and Cyprus in the East, from mainland Greece, Magna Graecia and Sicily to the Punic cities in Spain and Tripolitania. Since the organic products transported in the amphorae have left little or no trace in the archaeological record, the amphorae themselves, if carefully studied, provide us with excellent indicators of trading contacts. It is as such indicators of ancient trade they are studied in the present work. The study is limited to the late Classical and early Hellenistic periods, c. 400 to 250 BC. The chosen time-span begins and ends with two major historical events: the end of the Peloponnesian War (403) and the course of the First Punic War (264-241 BC). The main reason, however, for ending the study at around 250 BC is the apparent abandonment of the site after the death of the Cyrenaican governor Magas in the 250s BC. This event provides an excellent terminus ante quem for the pottery from the site and it is hoped that the results presented will help to fine-tune amphora chronologies for the period under consideration. The pottery comes mainly from excavated contexts and is to a very large extent well-stratified. The stratified pottery is often well-dated, thanks to numerous coin finds and the high proportion of Attic fine wares, which are more easily dated than amphorae. All diagnostic sherds (i.e. rims, bases and handles) from each context were quantified by count and weight. They were entered into a database in the field with detailed description of form and fabric. The body sherds were only counted and weighed and are not included in the present study. The quantification analysis emphasizes the relative proportions of each type in each deposit, rather than estimating the minimum numbers of vessels. Fabric samples were frequently taken for further analysis which resulted in the identification of numerous fabrics which were previously unknown. The amphorae at the site are presented in a catalogue (Part II) and where possible references are given to parallels from other sites of the same period. This is done with the aim of placing Euesperides in a wider context of ancient maritime trade in the Mediterranean and thereby to see how the city’s imports relates to those of other states in the given period. Trade routes are suggested and information from underwater archaeology is presented alongside historical sources about ancient trade. The third part of the study is an analysis of the material in relation to existing theories and models of ancient Greek trade. Here it ties into the century-old debate around the ancient economy. It is argued that the sheer quantity of goods traded firmly speaks against the so-called primitivist view of the ancient economy heralded by Finley and his followers, according to which trade was mainly local and on a small scale. Amphorae as archaeological evidence of ancient trade are used to refute the primitivist viewpoint. The study goes on to show that the actors operating in this maritime trade were no opportunistic small-scale traders sailing from one place to another in the hope of buying here and selling there. On the contrary, maritime trade in the period 400-250 BC was conducted on a large scale and was of a highly complex nature. The economy can best be described as a conglomeration of inter-dependent markets. The study ends with a suggestion for a new model of maritime trade in this period, based on the analysis of the amphorae from Euesperides and the comparanda from numerous other sites. This book can be purchased from Lund University: http://www.bokshop.lu.se/butik/the-transport-amphorae-from-euesperides/ ...