A Terra Sigillata Revolution? Terra sigillata consumption in first-century AD Roman Mediterranean Gaul

Although the widespread use of Gallic terra sigillata in first-century AD Gallia Narbonensis represents a dramatic change in relations of production and consumption, anthropological literature on consumption practices suggests that these mass-produced dining vessels would not necessarily have been u...

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Main Author: Benjamin P. Luley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of York 2018-05-01
Series:Internet Archaeology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue50/8/index.html
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author Benjamin P. Luley
author_facet Benjamin P. Luley
author_sort Benjamin P. Luley
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description Although the widespread use of Gallic terra sigillata in first-century AD Gallia Narbonensis represents a dramatic change in relations of production and consumption, anthropological literature on consumption practices suggests that these mass-produced dining vessels would not necessarily have been used in identical ways in different social contexts. This article examines the discarded Gallic terra sigillata assemblages from the Gallic sites of Lattara, Ambrussum, and Carsalade in eastern Languedoc, France, as well as from the Roman colony of Narbo Martius (modern Narbonne) in western Languedoc. Rather than indicating a homogeneous use of Gallic terra sigillata throughout the province, the ceramic data analysed here suggest instead that there were at least three distinctive patterns of terra sigillata use, as can be discerned by the proportions reflected in practices of discard. These patterns do not directly reflect actual dining sets or specific commensal events, but rather long-term, recurring practices among different social groups.
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spelling doaj.art-ef87c7550fd94c068bc568a583c8bc5a2024-02-02T18:21:11ZengUniversity of YorkInternet Archaeology1363-53872018-05-015010.11141/ia.50.8A Terra Sigillata Revolution? Terra sigillata consumption in first-century AD Roman Mediterranean GaulBenjamin P. Luley0Gettysburg CollegeAlthough the widespread use of Gallic terra sigillata in first-century AD Gallia Narbonensis represents a dramatic change in relations of production and consumption, anthropological literature on consumption practices suggests that these mass-produced dining vessels would not necessarily have been used in identical ways in different social contexts. This article examines the discarded Gallic terra sigillata assemblages from the Gallic sites of Lattara, Ambrussum, and Carsalade in eastern Languedoc, France, as well as from the Roman colony of Narbo Martius (modern Narbonne) in western Languedoc. Rather than indicating a homogeneous use of Gallic terra sigillata throughout the province, the ceramic data analysed here suggest instead that there were at least three distinctive patterns of terra sigillata use, as can be discerned by the proportions reflected in practices of discard. These patterns do not directly reflect actual dining sets or specific commensal events, but rather long-term, recurring practices among different social groups.http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue50/8/index.htmlarchaeologyRomanpotteryGallic terra sigillataGallia Narbonensisfirst century ADconsumptionhabitus
spellingShingle Benjamin P. Luley
A Terra Sigillata Revolution? Terra sigillata consumption in first-century AD Roman Mediterranean Gaul
Internet Archaeology
archaeology
Roman
pottery
Gallic terra sigillata
Gallia Narbonensis
first century AD
consumption
habitus
title A Terra Sigillata Revolution? Terra sigillata consumption in first-century AD Roman Mediterranean Gaul
title_full A Terra Sigillata Revolution? Terra sigillata consumption in first-century AD Roman Mediterranean Gaul
title_fullStr A Terra Sigillata Revolution? Terra sigillata consumption in first-century AD Roman Mediterranean Gaul
title_full_unstemmed A Terra Sigillata Revolution? Terra sigillata consumption in first-century AD Roman Mediterranean Gaul
title_short A Terra Sigillata Revolution? Terra sigillata consumption in first-century AD Roman Mediterranean Gaul
title_sort terra sigillata revolution terra sigillata consumption in first century ad roman mediterranean gaul
topic archaeology
Roman
pottery
Gallic terra sigillata
Gallia Narbonensis
first century AD
consumption
habitus
url http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue50/8/index.html
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