Late Roman Ware at Artena, Latium (3rd-7th c.): Archaeological Evidence and Archaeometric Data

This contribution aims to present the particularities of the assemblages from the Piano della Civita at Artena, near Rome, during Late Antiquity. Excavated since 1978 by a Belgian then Franco-American team under the supervision of Roger Lambrechts, then Cécile Brouillard and Jan Gadeyne, the artificial terrace of this Middle Republican settlement was later occupied by a complex succession of buildings. The Late Antique occupation, consisting mainly of farming and storage edifices, was followed by an early medieval structure with four golden solidi dated to 654-659 CE in the foundation.
The study of the pottery from the Late Antique layers gives us valuable information about the economy and culture of this region. Very few assemblages from this time period around Artena have been published and the material culture seems clearly different from Rome. Our paper will present the characteristics of the pottery from Artena, using both typology, quantifications and archaeometry (XRF, PIXE/PIGE, CPAA). These data will then be compared to other assemblages from this period around Artena and at Rome. Lastly, they will be discussed in the light of regional connectivity, changes in the food practices and esthetical choices. Special attention will be paid to the question of the changes in the choice and the preparation of the clays for certain uses (cooking, tableware), as well as to the provenance of a great amount of cooking ware that in their forms and fabric is very different from the Roman ware as well as from the local ware of the valle del Sacco.