Roman Pottery

Introduction by J.R. Green

Useful for classificatory purposes are the Atlanti delle forme ceramiche of the Enciclopedia dell’Arte Antica. Classica e Orientale: vol. i, Ceramica fina romana nel bacino mediterraneo (Medio e Tardo Impero) (1981) and vol. ii (Tardo Ellenismo e Primo Impero) (1985).

A very useful introductory study is J.W. Hayes, Handbook of Mediterranean Roman Pottery (London 1997). See further D.P.S. Peacock (ed.), Pottery and Early Commerce: Characterization and Trade in Roman and Later Ceramics (London 1977); D.P.S. Peacock, Pottery in the Roman World: an Ethnoarchaeological Approach (London 1982); K. Greene, Roman Pottery (London 1992). On the techniques of manufacture, see also the useful notes by D. Brown, “Pottery”, in: D. Strong and D. Brown (eds), Roman Crafts (London 1976) 75-91.

See also the many valuable contributions in D. Malfitana, J. Poblome and J. Lund (eds), Old Pottery in a New Century. Innovating Perspectives on Roman Pottery Studies. Atti del Convegno Internazionale di Studi, Catania, 22-24 Aprile 2004 (Catania 2006).

On the organisation of the Roman pottery industry, see P. Kenrick, “Italian Terra Sigillata: A Sophisticated Roman Industry”, Oxford Journal of Archaeology 12, 1993, 235-242.