Budapest Régiségei 30. (1993)

TÖRTÉNET, TOPOGRÁFIA = GESCHICHTE, TOPOGRAPHIE - Gabler Dénes: Samian ware from the Albertfalva vicus =Terra sigillaták az albertfalvai vicusból 119-132

Dénes GABLER SAMIAN WARE FROM THE ALBERTFALVA VICUS Klára Póczy, celebrated by this volume, intensively worked with Samian Ware and the influence of this imported ceramic on local pottery manufacturing, especially at the beginning of her career. As a beginner, she took part in the excavations at Albertfalva. Consequently, her activities are associated not only with this special kind of ware but also with the site itself. For a long time, the Albertfalva fort investigated between 1954 and 1971, was the first among the auxiliary camps in Pannónia in terms of the extent and intensity of research carried out there. Although recently, the size of surfaces opened at the forts of Intercisa and Carnuntum respectively have exceeded the dimensions of the Albertfalva fort, this castellum built in the neighbourhood of the Aquincum castra legionis is still one of the most significant of the limes fortifications. Still, only very few of the artifacts brought to light by the 1947-1971 excavations at the camp and vicus were published. In the absence of 1st century source materials, however, the excavator recognized the increasing significance of Samian Ware in dating as early as the 1940's. It is not an accident, therefore, that he relied predominantly on the evidence of Samian Ware recovered by previous excavations. In spite of these efforts, however, the number of Samian Ware finds published in detail or at least mentioned in the literature is less than two dozen. The paper presented here represents an attempt to partially fill this gap. It summarizes imported ceramics recovered from the area of the vicus during the 1973, 1975 and 1977 field seasons. During the course of investigations led by Krisztina Szirmai, almost 200 pieces of Samian Ware came to light from the dwelling- and refuse pits of the Roman settlement that surrounded the fort (see Appendix). As a result of these excavations, a longer section of the limes road was uncovered north of the camp. East of this road the first remains of a Roman Period settlement could be observed. The gravely, stony walking surface of the early settlements was registered along with the destruction layer of the Domitian Period. Within this latter stratum, the excavator also recognized the remains of wattle and daub buildings. The latest archaeological feature at this site, the ruins of stone houses from the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries, were represented only by rubble. No coin finds came to light during these investigations therefore, similarly to the fort, chronological problems can be best clarified using the evidence of Samian Ware. Material from the stone building, dwelling pits and timber structures southwest of the camp recovered in 1990 and finds brought to light by the 1984 rescue excavations in the northern part of the vicus were not included in this study. One of the surprises brought about by the excavations within the vicus area is the great number of Samian Ware finds from Northern Italy. Eight fragments of bowls and cups may be classified within this group: two of these are decorated with appliqué patterns. The fragment of a foot ring (plate 1.2) may be linked to Type Consp. 20 ( = Ohlenroth Abb. 3,3 = Goudineau 39 c = Pucci, Atlante X, Mazzeo 18). On these forms of plates, derived from the Haltern II and IV, assemblages a steep foot ring, characteristic of later products, was formed. (Noting a warning spelled out by C. Wells, however, chronological conclusions drawn from formal typologies must be treated with a measure of caution since it is not possible to demonstrate that the same type of development took place in all pottery manufacturing centers. The simultaneous character of these developments is similarly difficult to prove). Although the precursor of this form was already present by the end of Augustus' reign, varieties similar to the specimens found in the material under discussion here are known among the forms catalogued at Italian workshops even from the early 2nd century. This kind of plate was produced in especially great numbers by ofßcinae in the Po valley, which exported predominantly to the Danube region. The good quality fragment (BTM Inv. No 81. 6. 159) brought to light in the Albertfalva vicus was found in a secondary position within the fill above a wall oriented east-west. It was accompanied by a number of artifacts which can be dated to significantly later times. Another fragment from Northern Italy corresponds to Type Consp. 34 ( = Ohlenroth Abb. 3,8 = Goudineau 38 = Mazzeo LIX. 11; Plate 1.1 in this study). The inner profile of this cup is arched, while the outer walls form a straight, vertical line; The rim has a triangular cross-section while a small incised line runs below the vessel's mouth. This form appeared in Arezzo as early as the end of Tiberius' reign and during the Claudian Period respectively. By the second half of the 1st century this type became a leading form of Samian Ware in Italy (it is common in assemblages from Pompeji, Settefinestre, Luni and Sutri). This type was manufactured both in the Po valley and in the workshops of Central Italy until the end of the 1st century, or even the first quarter of the 2nd century. Its mass-production in Italy lasted from the time of Claudius until the Flavian Period, while its imports can be traced in the Danubian provinces until 80/85. Details of appliqué decoration may be traced on the fragment from Albertfalva. The running dog 119