Terra sigillata was Rome's glossy red fine tableware. Arezzo was a major production center under Augustus, and examples have been found across the empire, from Britain to India. The video argues that Arezzo producers also influenced workshops in Gaul, where La Graufesenque became a major first-century center. Excavation there uncovered a large kiln complex, but the estimated 35,000 vessels represent annual output across the site—not pots fired in a single batch.
La Graufesenque's Roman kilns produced up to 35,000 vessels a year
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Key facts
- Terra sigillata is glossy red Roman fine tableware; Arezzo was a major production center during Augustus's reign.
- Terra sigillata was widely distributed, with examples found from Britain to India.
- Maker's stamps distinguish products or manufacturers, but do not establish workshop size or whether workers were enslaved.
- The video argues that Arezzo producers influenced or established workshops in Gaul; La Graufesenque became a major first-century AD production center.
- La Graufesenque excavations uncovered numerous kilns. The estimated 35,000 vessels refers to annual output across the complex, not vessels fired simultaneously.
- The claim that this annual output was not equaled until the 19th century is not established by the search evidence.
Sources
What is terra sigillata from the site of Arezzo?sci-bot.ru
Terra sigillata (literally "sealed earth" or "stamped pottery") is a high-quality red-gloss fine tableware produced during the Roman period.
Terra sigillatareferenceworks.brill.com
Two findings suggest that such production was inspired by Arezzo: the large-scale enterprise of Cn. Ateius is linked to Arezzo and Pisa ( Pisae ) by ...
Terra Sigillata from Minturnaejstor.org
by H Comfort · 1943 · Cited by 12 — The larger part of importation from Arezzo to Minturnae occurred in the principate of Augustus, though it did not cease immediately thereafter.
Terra sigillataen.wikipedia.org
Terra sigillata as an archaeological term refers chiefly to a specific type of plain and decorated tableware made in Italy and in Gaul (France and the Rhineland) ...
The production centres and river network of Italian terra ...academia.edu
The text investigates the production and trade of Italian terra sigillata between the Arno and Tiber valleys. Arezzo emerged as a significant production center ...
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