Luxury tableware? Terra sigillata in the coastal region of the northern Netherlands

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Abstract

With thousands of finds, Roman terra sigillata (TS) is a common find category in terp settlements of the Northern Netherlands. It is traditionally interpreted as luxury tableware of the local elites, who acquired it through their contacts with Romans, or who were able to buy it from traders who came to this area with their merchandise. This paper questions that interpretation. The reason is that the far majority of TS is found as sherds, which, despite their good recognisability, only rarely fit other sherds. Moreover, many of these sherds are worked or used in some way. They were made into pendants, spindle whorls and playing counters, or show traces of deliberate breakage and of use for unknown purposes. Such traces are found on 70–80% of the sherds. The meaning of TS hence seems to have been symbolic rather than functional. Rather than as luxury tableware, TS may have been valued for the sake of the material itself, and may have been imported as sherds rather than as complete vessels. A symbolic value also shows from its long-term use. Used or worked TS sherds from the 2nd and 3rd century AD are often found in finds assemblages that may be interpreted as ritual deposits, not only from the Roman Period but also from the early Middle Ages. There are striking parallels for such use in early modern colonial contexts. TS sherds may have been part of the diplomatic gifts by which the Romans attempted to keep peace north of the limes, or may even have been payments for local products. These sherds might thus be comparable to the trade beads of early-modern European colonial traders.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationExperiencing the Frontier and the Frontier of Experience
Subtitle of host publicationBarbarian perspectives and Roman strategies to deal with new threats
EditorsAlexander Rubel, Hans-Ulrich Voß
Place of PublicationOxford
PublisherArchaeopress
Pages94-110
Number of pages17
ISBN (Electronic)9781789696820
ISBN (Print)9781789696813
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020
EventEAA conference Barcelona: 24th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists - University of Barcelona & Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Duration: 6-Sept-20188-Sept-2018
https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2018/Home/EAA2018/Home.aspx?hkey=a220a6d3-0479-491d-b7a4-680f05f025a4

Publication series

NameArchaeopress Roman Archaeology
PublisherArchaeopress
Volume76

Conference

ConferenceEAA conference Barcelona
Abbreviated titleEAA 2018
Country/TerritorySpain
CityBarcelona
Period06/09/201808/09/2018
Internet address

Keywords

  • Roman archaeology
  • Terra Sigillata
  • Roman colonization
  • Northern Netherlands

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  • EAA conference Barcelona

    Nieuwhof, A. (Organiser), Kegler, J. (Organiser) & Campbell, L. (Organiser)

    7-Sept-2018

    Activity: Organising and attending an event Organising and contributing to an event Academic

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