2.12. Richborough 527 amphoras

Typology

A cylindrical amphora with thick rounded (almond-shaped) rim, two small loop handles and a short sloping neck; shallow horizontal rilling on the body above a solid spike or button shaped foot. Borgard and Gateau define several sub-categories of amphores canneleés which include the R527 and allied types (Borgard and Gateau 1991).

Fabric and technology

The fabric described by Peacock (1977) is hard and rough with lumpy cracked surfaces, generally greenish-grey or pink (Munsell 5YR 7/2 to 8/4) in colour; distinctive abundant volcanic inclusions, particularly large rounded `lapilli' of colourless volcanic glass. The petrology indicates a source in an area of recent vulcanism and clay formations of marine origin. Augst TG 66

Potters and stamps

Some examples have small circular stamps on the upper body.

Distribution

Vessels claimed as R527 are recorded from Britain, western France, Provence and Italy. There is a single sherd from Lambaesis (Algeria), in the same fabric as those from London. Parker records R527 from two wrecks on the Dalmatian coast (Parker 1992, no. 775, with Italian material, and 1124).

Source

Probably the Eolie islands (off the north-east corner of Sicily), where kiln-waste has been discovered near Lipari (Borgard and Cavalier 1994).

Date

Some of the vessels from Provence discussed by Borgard and Gateau, which are taller and slimmer than the British R527 specimens, date to the 1st cent. BC. The majority of those from western France (Brittany and the Loire valley) seem to be mid-later 1st cent. AD. British examples range from pre-conquest (Skeleton Green) through to later 2nd or early 3rd cent. AD (New Fresh Wharf, London). The material described by Arthur from Campania is largely 3rd cent. AD.

Contents

Unknown, but suggestions include fruit, capers and alum.

Aliases

Augst class 42. Peacock and Williams class 13.

References

The original definition of the type is in Peacock 1977. The situation thereafter is summarized by Sealey 1985, who records Peacock's suggestion that the type comes from the Massif Central. This was followed up in André 1989. The possibility of an Italian (Campanian ?) origin is raised in Arthur 1989, but French reports continued to press the case for a Gaulish source, on the grounds of the large number of specimens (Borgard and Gateau 1991). For the Lipari kiln material and speculation on contents: Cavalier 1994; Borgard 1994.

Bibliography

André 1989 André, P., Les amphores cannelées du 1er siècle dans la France de l'ouest, in Amphores romaines et histoire économique: dix ans de recherche, Collection de l'École Française de Rome, 114, 588-9, École Française de Rome, Rome, 1989.
Arthur 1989 Arthur, P. R., On the origins of Richborough form 527, in Amphores romaines et histoire économique: dix ans de recherche, Collection de l'École Française de Rome, 114, 249-56, École Française de Rome, Rome, 1989.
Borgard 1994 Borgard, P., L'origine liparote des amphores Richborough 527 et la détermination de leur contenu, in Actes du Congrès de Millau. 12-15 Mai 1994, L. Rivet ed., 197-204, SFECAG, Marseille, 1994.
Borgard and Cavalier 1994 Borgard, P. and Cavalier, M., Recent research on Richborough 527 amphorae, Note distributed at Roman Amphorae conference, London, 23-24 January 1994, 1994.
Borgard and Gateau 1991 Borgard, P. and Gateau, F., Des amphores canneleés à Cavaillon (Vaucluse) à la fin du 1er siecle avant notre ère. Nouveaux éléments pour l'étude des "Richborough 527", in Actes du Congrès de Cognac. 8-11 Mai 1991, L. Rivet ed., 311-28, SFECAG, Marseille, 1991.
Cavalier 1994 Cavalier, M., Les amphores Richborough 527. Decouverte d'un atelier à Portinenti (Lipari, Italie), in Actes du Congrès de Millau. 12-15 Mai 1994, L. Rivet ed., 189-96, SFECAG, Marseille, 1994.
Parker 1992 Parker, A. J., Ancient shipwrecks of the Mediterranean and the Roman Provinces, British archaeological reports. International series, 580, Tempus Reparatum, Oxford, 1992.
Peacock 1977 Peacock, D. P. S., Roman amphorae: typology, fabric and origin, in Méthodes classiques et méthodes formelles dans l'etude des amphores, G. Vallet ed., Collection de l'École Française de Rome, 32, 261-78, École Française de Rome, Rome, 1977.
Sealey 1985 Sealey, P. R., Amphoras from the 1970 excavations at Colchester Sheepen, British archaeological reports. British series, 142, BAR, Oxford, 1985.