A comprehensive study of Maltese pottery forms from key stratified deposits spanning the 1st century BC to mid-4th century AD. Ceramic material is analysed and quantified in a bid to understand Maltese pottery production during the Roman period, and trace the type and volume of ceramic-borne goods that were circulating the central Mediterranean.

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright page
• Contents Page
• Foreword
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Past ceramic research
• Methodology
  • Quantification
  • Chronology
  • Classification criteria
• Figure 1: Location map of Malta and sites mentioned in text.
  • Figure 2: (top) Aerial view of south-east Malta indicating the location of the Bulebel site and other sites in the area (source: Google Earth); (bottom) Plan of the Bulebel quarry site (adapted from Pace et al. 2012, fig. 6).
  • Figure 3: Stratigraphic matrix for the Bulebel excavation.
  • Figure 4: a) Aerial view of Rabat, Gozo, indicating the location of the Foreman Street site and key surrounding sites (source: Google Earth); b Number (RBH) of predominant local coarse ware types identified at Foreman Street (n=732).
  • Figure 5: Plan of the Melita Esplanade trench showing the structures discovered (after Lander 1984, site plan).
  • Figure 6: Stratigraphic matrix for the Melita Esplanade excavation.
  • Figure 7: West-facing elevation of wall 1040
  • Figure 8: Detailed plan of interior floor levels within Structure A
  • Figure 9: West-facing section drawing of interior of Structure A
  • Figure 10: Section drawings of cistern 1044
  • Figure 11: Aerial view of Mdina and Rabat, Malta, indicating the location of other Roman-period remains and finds (source: Google Earth); and (bottom) a plan of the Roman domus and other houses excavated in Rabat, Malta
  • Figure 12: (top) Amphorae types (based on RBH); and comparison between count of walls, RBH and combined total for amphora in Phases 1 (bottom left) and 2 (bottom right) at Bulebel (n=309).
  • Figure 13: Number of diagnostic amphora types identified at Melita (n=102).
  • Figure 14: Comparison between count of walls, RBH and combined total for amphorae in Phases 1 (left) and 2 (right) at Melita (n=61).
  • Figure 15: Quantity (based on RBHS) of amphorae from Foreman Street (n=99).
  • Figure 16: Quantification of fine wares from the three sites.
  • Figure 17: Comparison between count of walls, RBH and combined total for amphorae in Phases 3-5 at Melita (n=174).
  • Figure 18: Quantification of cooking wares from the three sites.
  • Figure 19: Schematic diagram showing the five main geological layers of the Maltese islands.
  • Figure 20: Possible sources and types of inclusions in Maltese pottery fabrics.
  • Figure 22: Local Maltese fabrics 1-2.
  • Figure 23: Local Maltese fabrics 3-7.
  • Figure 24: Local Punic and Roman amphorae (A1-A2).
  • Figure 25: Local and imported Punic and early Roman amphorae (A2-A9).
  • Figure 26: Imported early Roman amphorae (A9-A10).
  • Figure 27: Detail of possible stamp on an imported Lamboglia 2 amphora (A10.2) from Bulebel.
  • Figure 28: Imported amphorae (A10-A11).
  • Figure 29: Imported amphora (A11).
  • Figure 30: Imported east Sicilian amphorae (A12-A13).
  • Figure 31: Imported amphorae (A14-A23).
  • Figure 32: Miscellaneous imported amphorae (A24).
  • Figure 33: Local red-slipped ware (B1-B7).
  • Figure 34: Local red-slipped bowl forms (B1 and B4).
  • Figure 35: Local red-slipped ware forms (B8-B12).
  • Figure 36: Local red-slipped ware forms (B13-B20).
  • Figure 37: Local red-slipped and thin-walled ware forms (B21-B27).
  • Figure 38: Imported thin-walled ware (B28-B32), black-slipped ware (B33-B35), and Italian terra sigillata (B36).
  • Figure 39: Imported red-slipped ware forms (B37-B40).
  • Figure 40: Imported red-slipped ware forms (B40-B41).
  • Figure 41: Local cooking ware forms (C1-C7).
  • Figure 42: Local cooking ware forms (C8-C14).
  • Figure 43: Local handmade ware forms (C15-C16).
  • Figure 44: Local handmade and painted wares (C16, C19 and D34.1).
  • Figure 45: Local handmade ware forms (C16-C17).
  • Figure 46: Local handmade ware forms (C18-C19).
  • Figure 47: Imported cooking ware forms (C20-C25).
  • Figure 48: Imported cooking ware forms (C26-C31).
  • Figure 49: Imported cooking ware forms (C31-C33).
  • Figure 50: Imported cooking ware forms (C34-C38.
  • Figure 51: Imported cooking ware forms (C39-C40).
  • Figure 52: Imported cooking ware forms (C40-C45).
  • Figure 53: Pantellerian cooking ware forms (C46-C47).
  • Figure 54: Pantellerian cooking ware forms (C48-C51).
  • Figure 55: Local coarse ware bowls, types D1-D5.
  • Figure 56: Local coarse ware bowl forms (D6-D9).
  • Figure 57: Local coarse ware bowl forms (D9-D10).
  • Figure 58: Local coarse ware bowl forms (D11-D12).
  • Figure 59: Local coarse ware bowl forms (D13-D15).
  • Figure 60: Local coarse ware bowl forms (D16-D21).
  • Figure 61: Local coarse ware bowl (D22) and plate (D23-D26) forms.
  • Figure 62: Local coarse ware plate forms (D26-D28).
  • Figure 63: Local coarse ware bowl forms (D29-D31).
  • Figure 64: Painted coarse ware bowl forms (D32-D34)
  • Figure 65: Painted coarse ware plate form D35.
  • Figure 66: Coarse ware large bowl forms (D36-D37).
  • Figure 67: Coarse ware large bowl forms (D38-D40).
  • Figure 68: Coarse ware large bowl forms (D40-D42).
  • Figure 69: Coarse ware large bowl forms (D42-D45).
  • Figure 70: Coarse ware large bowl forms (D45-D49).
  • Figure 71: Large coarse ware bowl (D50) and plate (D51) forms.
  • Figure 72: Coarse ware mortar base (D52).
  • Figure 73: Miscellaneous large open coarse ware vessels (D53).
  • Figure 74: Coarse ware jar forms (D54-D55).
  • Figure 75: Coarse ware jug and jar forms (D55-D57).
  • Figure 76: Coarse ware jug and jar forms (D58-D62).
  • Figure 77: Complete examples of jars (types D60 and D61) and a warped bowl possibly belonging to type D11, on exhibit at the National Museum of Archaeology, Gozo.
  • Figure 78: Coarse ware jug and flask forms (D63-D67).
  • Figure 79: Round-mouth jar (D64) from an underwater context off the coast of Xlendi Bay, Gozo.
  • Figure 80: Coarse ware juglet (D66.1) from Bulebel tomb 3.
  • Figure 81: Miscellaneous coarse ware jug and flask forms (D67-D69).
  • Figure 82: Coarse ware storage jar forms (D70-D71).
  • Figure 83: Coarse ware storage jar forms (D72-D74).
  • Figure 84: Dolia forms (D75-D79).
  • Figure 85: Imported unguentaria (D80).
  • Figure 86: Local closed lamp forms (L1-L2).
  • Figure 87: Miscellaneous coarse ware forms (M1-M6).
• Figure 1: Location map of Malta and sites mentioned in text.
  • Figure 2: (top) Aerial view of south-east Malta indicating the location of the Bulebel site and other sites in the area (source: Google Earth); (bottom) Plan of the Bulebel quarry site (adapted from Pace et al. 2012, fig. 6).
  • Figure 3: Stratigraphic matrix for the Bulebel excavation.
  • Figure 4: a) Aerial view of Rabat, Gozo, indicating the location of the Foreman Street site and key surrounding sites (source: Google Earth); b Number (RBH) of predominant local coarse ware types identified at Foreman Street (n=732).
  • Figure 5: Plan of the Melita Esplanade trench showing the structures discovered (after Lander 1984, site plan).
  • Figure 6: Stratigraphic matrix for the Melita Esplanade excavation.
  • Figure 7: West-facing elevation of wall 1040
  • Figure 8: Detailed plan of interior floor levels within Structure A
  • Figure 9: West-facing section drawing of interior of Structure A
  • Figure 10: Section drawings of cistern 1044
  • Figure 11: Aerial view of Mdina and Rabat, Malta, indicating the location of other Roman-period remains and finds (source: Google Earth); and (bottom) a plan of the Roman domus and other houses excavated in Rabat, Malta
  • Figure 12: (top) Amphorae types (based on RBH); and comparison between count of walls, RBH and combined total for amphora in Phases 1 (bottom left) and 2 (bottom right) at Bulebel (n=309).
  • Figure 13: Number of diagnostic amphora types identified at Melita (n=102).
  • Figure 14: Comparison between count of walls, RBH and combined total for amphorae in Phases 1 (left) and 2 (right) at Melita (n=61).
  • Figure 15: Quantity (based on RBHS) of amphorae from Foreman Street (n=99).
  • Figure 16: Quantification of fine wares from the three sites.
  • Figure 17: Comparison between count of walls, RBH and combined total for amphorae in Phases 3-5 at Melita (n=174).
  • Figure 18: Quantification of cooking wares from the three sites.
  • Figure 19: Schematic diagram showing the five main geological layers of the Maltese islands.
  • Figure 20: Possible sources and types of inclusions in Maltese pottery fabrics.
  • Figure 21: The thickest Greensands outcrop, il-Gelmus hill, on Gozo. The outcrop is a short distance from the Foreman Street site.
  • Figure 22: Local Maltese fabrics 1-2.
  • Figure 23: Local Maltese fabrics 3-7.
  • Figure 24: Local Punic and Roman amphorae (A1-A2).
  • Figure 25: Local and imported Punic and early Roman amphorae (A2-A9).
  • Figure 26: Imported early Roman amphorae (A9-A10).
  • Figure 27: Detail of possible stamp on an imported Lamboglia 2 amphora (A10.2) from Bulebel.
  • Figure 28: Imported amphorae (A10-A11).
  • Figure 29: Imported amphora (A11).
  • Figure 30: Imported east Sicilian amphorae (A12-A13).
  • Figure 31: Imported amphorae (A14-A23).
  • Figure 32: Miscellaneous imported amphorae (A24).
  • Figure 33: Local red-slipped ware (B1-B7).
  • Figure 34: Local red-slipped bowl forms (B1 and B4).
  • Figure 35: Local red-slipped ware forms (B8-B12).
  • Figure 36: Local red-slipped ware forms (B13-B20).
  • Figure 37: Local red-slipped and thin-walled ware forms (B21-B27).
  • Figure 38: Imported thin-walled ware (B28-B32), black-slipped ware (B33-B35), and Italian terra sigillata (B36).
  • Figure 39: Imported red-slipped ware forms (B37-B40).
  • Figure 40: Imported red-slipped ware forms (B40-B41).
  • Figure 41: Local cooking ware forms (C1-C7).
  • Figure 42: Local cooking ware forms (C8-C14).
  • Figure 43: Local handmade ware forms (C15-C16).
  • Figure 44: Local handmade and painted wares (C16, C19 and D34.1).
  • Figure 45: Local handmade ware forms (C16-C17).
  • Figure 46: Local handmade ware forms (C18-C19).
  • Figure 47: Imported cooking ware forms (C20-C25).
  • Figure 48: Imported cooking ware forms (C26-C31).
  • Figure 49: Imported cooking ware forms (C31-C33).
  • Figure 50: Imported cooking ware forms (C34-C38.
  • Figure 51: Imported cooking ware forms (C39-C40).
  • Figure 52: Imported cooking ware forms (C40-C45).
  • Figure 53: Pantellerian cooking ware forms (C46-C47).
  • Figure 54: Pantellerian cooking ware forms (C48-C51).
  • Figure 55: Local coarse ware bowls, types D1-D5.
  • Figure 56: Local coarse ware bowl forms (D6-D9).
  • Figure 57: Local coarse ware bowl forms (D9-D10).
  • Figure 58: Local coarse ware bowl forms (D11-D12).
  • Figure 59: Local coarse ware bowl forms (D13-D15).
  • Figure 60: Local coarse ware bowl forms (D16-D21).
  • Figure 61: Local coarse ware bowl (D22) and plate (D23-D26) forms.
  • Figure 62: Local coarse ware plate forms (D26-D28).
  • Figure 63: Local coarse ware bowl forms (D29-D31).
  • Figure 64: Painted coarse ware bowl forms (D32-D34)
  • Figure 65: Painted coarse ware plate form D35.
  • Figure 66: Coarse ware large bowl forms (D36-D37).
  • Figure 67: Coarse ware large bowl forms (D38-D40).
  • Figure 68: Coarse ware large bowl forms (D40-D42).
  • Figure 69: Coarse ware large bowl forms (D42-D45).
  • Figure 70: Coarse ware large bowl forms (D45-D49).
  • Figure 71: Large coarse ware bowl (D50) and plate (D51) forms.
  • Figure 72: Coarse ware mortar base (D52).
  • Figure 73: Miscellaneous large open coarse ware vessels (D53).
  • Figure 74: Coarse ware jar forms (D54-D55).
  • Figure 75: Coarse ware jug and jar forms (D55-D57).
  • Figure 76: Coarse ware jug and jar forms (D58-D62).
  • Figure 77: Complete examples of jars (types D60 and D61) and a warped bowl possibly belonging to type D11, on exhibit at the National Museum of Archaeology, Gozo.
  • Figure 78: Coarse ware jug and flask forms (D63-D67).
  • Figure 79: Round-mouth jar (D64) from an underwater context off the coast of Xlendi Bay, Gozo.
  • Figure 80: Coarse ware juglet (D66.1) from Bulebel tomb 3.
  • Figure 81: Miscellaneous coarse ware jug and flask forms (D67-D69).
  • Figure 82: Coarse ware storage jar forms (D70-D71).
  • Figure 83: Coarse ware storage jar forms (D72-D74).
  • Figure 84: Dolia forms (D75-D79).
  • Figure 85: Imported unguentaria (D80).
  • Figure 86: Local closed lamp forms (L1-L2).
  • Figure 87: Miscellaneous coarse ware forms (M1-M6).
  • LCW=Local coarse ware; ICW=Imported coarse ware; Afr.=North African; Camp.=Campanian; Imp.=Imported; Misc.=Miscellaneous; Pun.=Punic.
• Table 1: The chronological divisions of assemblages used for the analysis in this study.
• The sites and their assemblages
  • Bulebel, Malta (compiled together with N. Cutajar)
    • The pottery assemblage from Bulebel
  • Foreman Street, Rabat, Gozo (compiled together with N. Cutajar)
    • The pottery assemblage from Foreman Street, Gozo
  • Melita Esplanade, Rabat, Malta (compiled together with D. Cardona)
    • Stratigraphic report for Melita Esplanade
    • The pottery from the Melita Esplanade
• Table 2: Number and percentage (RBHS) of imported and local pottery; and the proportion of imported versus local pottery from the Q3 assemblage at Bulebel (n=2408).
• Table 3: Amphorae types from Bulebel.
• Table 4: Number and percentage (RBHS) of imported and local pottery; and the proportion of imported versus local pottery from Foreman Street (n=3621).
• Local Maltese potteries
• Table 5: Number and percentage (RBHS) of imported and local pottery; and the proportion of imported versus local pottery from Museum Esplanade, Rabat, Malta (n=1461).
• Table 6: Amphorae types from the Melita Esplanade.
• Chronology and a discussion of the import trends
  • Early Roman period
  • Mid-Roman period
  • Later Roman period
• General conclusion
• Local Maltese fabrics
  • Geology of the Maltese Islands
  • A Classification of Maltese fabrics
    • Local Fabric 1
    • Local Fabric 2
    • Local Fabric 3
    • Local Fabric 4
    • Local Fabric 5
    • Local Fabric 6
    • Local Fabric 7
• Catalogue of pottery
  • Catalogue structure
    • Amphorae (A1-A24)
    • Punic-period amphora forms (A1)
    • Roman-period amphora forms (A2-A4)
    • Imported amphorae (A5-A24)
  • Fine wares (B1-B41)
    • Local fine wares (B1-B27)
    • Local red-slipped wares (B1-B22)
    • Local Thin-walled wares (B23-B27)
    • Imported Fine wares (B28-B42)
  • Cooking wares (C1-C51)
    • Local Cooking wares (C1-C20)
    • Local ollae (C1-C7)
    • Imported Cooking wares (C20-C27)
    • Coarse wares (D1-D80)
    • Local Coarse wares (D1-D80)
  • Lamps (L1-L2)
  • Miscellaneous vessels (M1-M6)
• Table 7: Number of ARS fragments from the three assemblages (RBHS).
• Appendix 1: Catalogue entry concordance
• Appendix 2: Pottery quantification
• References
• Back cover