Use and reuse of amphorae. Wine residues in Dressel 2–4 amphorae from Oplontis Villa B (Torre Annunziata, Italy)

Is it possible to identify ancient wine production using biomolecular approaches?

“…Recent chemical analysis of potsherds from Georgia (McGovern et al 2017) claims to have pushed the antiquity of wine production back to the Early Neolithic period (around 6000-5800 BC), some 1000 years earlier than its previous earliest identification in a vessel from the Zagros Mountains (Iran, 5400-5000 BC;McGovern et al 1996). Wine was also claimed to be identified in vessels from Northern Greece (around 4300 BC; Garnier and Valamoti 2016), Egypt (from 3000 BC; Guasch-Jané et al 2004, 2006a, 2006b, Northern Italy (1500-1300 BC; Pecci et al 2017), and in Southern France (around 500 BC; McGovern, Luley, et al, 2013), providing important insights into early establishment of the tradition throughout the Mediterranean. Analysis of Egyptian vessels has highlighted the role of wine in many aspects of political and religious life (Guasch-Jané et al 2006a, 2006bMcGovern 1997).…”

“…Detecting wine in ancient containers is, in particular, a way to study the Mediterranean economy, by identifying pressing and storage structures for wine, and distinguishing them from those for olive oil production Garnier 2013, Pecci, Giorgi, Salvini, et al 2013). Historical sources from the Classical period described the following amphorae as specific wine containers and several studies tried to check this hypothesis: amphorae from Corfu and Mende (Greece, fifth to third century B.C; Foley et al 2012), Roman Dressel amphorae (first century BC to first century AD; Arobba et al 2014;Condamin and Formenti 1978;Formenti, Hesnard, and Tchernia 1978;Garnier et al 2003;Pecci et al 2017), Late Roman (LR, fourth century AD; Pecci, Salvini, and Cantini 2010), and Keay amphorae (fourth to fifth century BC; Woodworth et al 2015). More recently, the wine was claimed to be identified in an Early Celtic princely site (seventh to fifth centuries BC), which demonstrates trade between the Mediterranean and the Celtic spheres (Rageot et al 2019).…”

8.A Material Evidence

“…Bonifay and Garnier (2007) critically examine the evidence for the contents of North African amphorae. See also Foley et al 2012;Pecci et al 2017.  Lewit 2011 provides a good overview.…”

Bayesian analysis and free market trade within the Roman Empire

“…Assumptions regarding the use of these containers have, however, been recently challenged. Such assumptions include the lack of re-use, or the unambiguous association between amphora types and their contents (Romanus et al 2009;Foley et al 2012;Pecci et al 2017). In addition, proposed patterns of increase or decrease in trade activities based on the frequency distribution of amphorae could also be explained by the use of containers that rarely survive in the archaeological record, such as barrels and skins (Wilson 2009).…”

“…2012; Pecci et al . 2017). In addition, proposed patterns of increase or decrease in trade activities based on the frequency distribution of amphorae could also be explained by the use of containers that rarely survive in the archaeological record, such as barrels and skins (Wilson 2009).…”