Some remarks on military pottery in Aquincum

Vámos, P. (2012) Some remarks on military pottery in Aquincum. Acta Archaeologica, 63 (2). pp. 395-405. ISSN 0001-5210

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Abstract

Numerous notable potters’ waste layers came to light during the recent excavation of a detail of the military pottery workshop (so-called’ Kiscelli Street workshop’) in the Aquincum canabae.A distinctive quality ceramic group was separatable in these layers. These ceramics have well, fine levigated clay and were fired to red and hard. The surfaces are glossy by burnishing or a very thin slip. These sherds measure in many cases up to the Samian ware quality. As geochemical researches revealed these ceramics were made from local clay into which some „red earth” (rich in Al2O3-, Fe2O3- and MnO) admixture was mixed. Moreover it was also observed that the above-mentioned good quality product forms were sometimes made in a „traditional” (without red admixture) colour, too.We can find the best analogies of these ceramics in connection with the finds of the legionary pottery’s find-places (Noviomagus-Holdeurn ware, Vetera, Vindonissa, Argentorate, Wetterau ware, Butovo etc.). These are in the closest connection with the Holdeurn ware in both form and quality (four of the five forms are almost identical). Based on the similarity we think that potterers from Noviomagus might have been commanded here, which is naturally not surprising knowing that the legio X Gemina was placed from Noviomagus to Aquincum in 105 AD and was stationed here till 118 AD. At the same time, researching the origin of the existing forms we find many similarities with the eastern Samian ware (terra sigillata) forms, too. This raises the question who were those potterers that developed these forms first? Though J. K. Haalebos suggested the presence of Italian potterers in connection with the Holdeun pottery, the possibility of eastern potterers’ contribution can also be taken into account.

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