Mees, Allard W.
Organisationsformen römischer Töpfer-Manufakturen am Beispiel von Arezzo und Rheinzabern unter Berücksichtigung von Papyri, Inschriften und Rechtsquellen
Roman Terra Sigillata (Samian) ceramic was made in large manufacturing sites with highly sophisticated technology. The red slip ware was distributed throughout the Roman Empire. However, the complex organisational structures within the kiln sites and the distribution network were until know largely unknown. This book uses a dual approach to unveil the internal social and organisational labor structures from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD. Firstly by analysing the figure type combinations of decorated terra sigillata with statistical methods and secondly by comparing the results with the evidence of nearly 40 potters’ contracts documented in Roman Egyptian papyri. Additionally, the discernable working clusters of potters are analysed for their reappearance in distribution patterns and dated by their occurrence on dated sites. The social analysis of the potters’ names involved makes it clear that slaves are not traceable in the Samian industry.
