2.1. Dressel 20 amphoras and allied types

Typology

The Dressel 20 is a large globular form, with two handles and thickened, rounded or angular rim, concave internally. A distinctive `plug' of clay seals the base of the vessel. The Augustan precursor of the Dressel 20 - the Oberaden 83 - has an ovoid body, a more prominent, pointed spike and is of less massive construction. The successor form - the Dressel 23 - is smaller and has a more pointed base. The rim shape develops from more rounded forms in the 1st century. to more angular forms in the 3rd century. Commonly stamped, most often on the summit of the handle, but occasionally on the neck or body.

Painted inscriptions (tituli picti) may be found on the shoulder (between the handles) and there are occasional pre-firing graffiti, some with consular dates (RIB ii.6, 2493.1-11: Collingwood et al. 1994) which show the date of manufacture.

Fabric and technology

Thick, coarse sandy fabric with irregular fracture, tending to laminate; variable in colour, but generally with buff (Munsell e.g. 7.5YR 7/4) or grey core with darker margins and yellow or off-white surfaces. Abundant coarse white and multicoloured inclusions of quartz, limestone feldspar and composite rock fragments, slightly micaceous. Deep, but uneven wheel marks on the internal surface. Later examples tend to be red in colour, harder and white-slipped. Augst TG 1-11

Capacity

Average 60-5l, but ranging from 40l to 80l. Post-firing graffiti on the rim or handle may record the volumes of the empty vessel in modii and sextarii (see discussion in RIB ii.6, 2494). Most record volumes between 7 and 8 modii (i.e. 61-70l).

Date

Oberaden 83 form found in small quantities on Augustan sites in Britain, but the classic Dressel 20 form is present on a few sites from Claudian period. Widespread on post-conquest sites, up to the mid-3rd century. Production ceases by c. AD 260, but succeeded by the smaller Dressel 23 form (up to mid-4th century). The proportion of Dressel 20s in the British amphora assemblage reaches a peak in Antonine period (Williams and Peacock 1983).

Source

The Guadalquivir valley in southern Spain (the Roman province of Baetica), between the cities of Cordoba and Seville. The extensive surveys by Ponsich (Ponsich 1974; 1979; 1991) describes the evidence from the production sites.

Contents

Principally olive-oil; occasionally preserved olives (Sealey 1985, 74).

Distribution

Widespread around the western Mediterranean. Large numbers exported to Rome during the 2nd century AD where the broken vessels form the Monte Testaccio. In the northern provinces, distribution seems to follow the Rhône-Rhine system (\c ), thence to Britain, where widespread.

Aliases

Augst class 1. Peacock and Williams classes 24 (Oberaden 83, Haltern 71, Dressel 25), 25 (Dressel 20, Beltrán V, Ostia I, Callender 11) and 26 (Dressel 23, Keay XIII).

References

The most complete general discussion is Martin-Kilcher 1987, with an analysis of typology, fabrics, sources and dating. There are numerous shipwrecks (Parker 1992). The literature on the stamps is scattered. Callender's (1965) extensive survey should be used in conjunction with more recent works; the stamps from the production sites are indexed by Ponsich 1991, 267-70. Modern approaches attempt to study production and trade patterns through the stamps e.g. Remesal Rodríguez 1986; Remesal Rodríguez 1982. For Monte Testaccio: Rodríguez Almeida 1984. On the tituli picti: Rodríguez Almeida 1989.

Bibliography

Callender 1965 Callender, M. H., Roman amphorae: with an index of stamps, University of Durham publications, Oxford University Press, London, 1965.
Collingwood et al. 1994 Collingwood, R. G., Wright, R. P., Frere, S. S. and Tomlin, R. S. O., The Roman Inscriptions of Britain. Volume II, Fascicule 6, Alan Sutton Publishing, Stroud, 1994.
Martin-Kilcher 1987 Martin-Kilcher, S., Die römischen Amphoren aus Augst und Kaiseraugst. Ein Beitrag zur römischen Handels- und Kulturgeschichte. 1, Die südspanischen Ölamphoren, Gruppe 1, Forschungen in Augst, 7, Römermuseum, Augst, 1987.
Parker 1992 Parker, A. J., Ancient shipwrecks of the Mediterranean and the Roman Provinces, British archaeological reports. International series, 580, Tempus Reparatum, Oxford, 1992.
Ponsich 1974 Ponsich, M., Implantation rural antique sur le bas-Guadalquivir. I, Collection de la Casa de Velázquez, 3, Madrid, 1974.
Ponsich 1979 Ponsich, M., Implantation rural antique sur le bas-Guadalquivir. II, Collection de la Casa de Velázquez, Madrid, 1979.
Ponsich 1991 Ponsich, M., Implantation rural antique sur le bas-Guadalquivir. IV, Collection de la Casa de Velázquez, 33, Madrid, 1991.
Remesal Rodríguez 1982 Remesal Rodríguez, J., Die Ölwirtschaft in der Provinz Baetica: neue Formen der Analyse, Saalburg-Jahrbuch, 38, 30-71, 1982.
Remesal Rodríguez 1986 Remesal Rodríguez, J., La annona militaris y la exportacion de aceite bético a Germania, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, 1986.
Rodríguez Almeida 1984 Rodríguez Almeida, E., Il Monte Testaccio: ambiente, storia, materiali, Rome, 1984.
Rodríguez Almeida 1989 Rodríguez Almeida, E., Los Tituli Picti de las ánforas olearias de la Bética. I, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, 1989.
Sealey 1985 Sealey, P. R., Amphoras from the 1970 excavations at Colchester Sheepen, British archaeological reports. British series, 142, BAR, Oxford, 1985.
D. F. Williams and Peacock 1983 Williams, D. F. and Peacock, D. P. S., The importation of olive-oil into Iron Age and Roman Britain, in Producción y commercio del aceite en la Antigüedad. Secundo Congreso Internacional, Seville 1982, 263-80, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, 1983.