UN ANSAMBLU CERAMIC DE PERIOADĂ SEVERIANĂ DE LA ALBA IULIA. CONTRIBUłII LA ISTORIA ECONOMICĂ A ASEZĂRILOR DE LA APULUM
SOME CONSIDERATIONS ON A CERAMIC ASSEMBLAGE FROM SEVERAN APULUM. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ECONOMY OF THE APULUM SETTLEMENTS

Summary/Abstract: This study analyzes the pottery found during a small rescue excavation brought about by private property development in Alba Iulia (Încoronării Blvd. No. 26). The site is located in the territory of the second town of the Apulum conurbation (municipium Septimium Apulensis), in the vicinity of the Austrian citadel standing walls. The excavated surface is relatively small (6x1.5 m), allowing for a very restricted investigation. A structure delimited by two parallel walls was unearthed, as well as a rectangular surface for preparing lime mortar used for the masonry of these structures. Later, everything was cut by a waste pit containing pottery sherds, large animal bones, a wooden fragment and an extremely corroded unidentifiable bronze coin. The ceramic content of the waste pit (G1) is highly homogenous, both typologically and chronologically. All fragments can be safely identified as products of the recently investigated kiln-site Apulum Partos (Ciausescu 2005, Ciausescu, and Symonds forthcoming). The pottery corresponds to the type series established for the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries. The local repertory is essentially of Pannonian influence, probably due to the origins of the first potters and the demand of the local market. The market was initially represented by Legion XIII Gemina, which had been quartered in Pannonia for a long time, the veterans of these troops and numerous colonists. About half of all fragments belong to wine containers, both amphora and large storage flagons. The local production of such amphora is proven by wasters and the discovery of a kiln dated 3rd century A.D. in Apulum Partos (Diaconescu, Schäfer 1997). No evidence of previous amphorae production had been recorded on this production site. Also, a complete firing of storage flagon of the aforementioned type dating from mid to late 2nd century, which had been dumped with the kiln itself, was excavated on the same production site (Ciausescu 2005). The jar fragments are equally represented and generally belong to the Schoultertöpfe type. This type dominates the 3rd century assemblages at the sanctuary of Liber Pater (Fiedler 2005) and has gradually replaced the 2nd century most common lid seated jars with one handle, a type still in use on a smaller scale in the 3rd century. Other classes are illustrated by only one fragment: the base of a cup, an oxidized lid and a pinched tazza rim. The eight materials identified are identical with the Partos materials, which have been described and encoded by Fiona Seeley (MOLAS). This ceramic assemblage is very relevant for the study of the Apulum region economy, as it safely marks a site on the map of the Apulum Partos products’ distribution and marketing. Although the local distribution of these products appears obvious, it has to be further supported by such evidence.

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