Late Roman coarse wares , cooking wares and amphorae. A survey of current research in Italy

In this paper I would like to present an overall view of the current tendencies in Italy with regard to the study of Late Roman coarse and cooking wares and amphorae. I feel that it is necessary to make a preliminary observation: as is well known, the international economic crisis has had a strong impact on Italy and there have been considerable cuts in general scientific research. Moreover, in specific terms, the study of pottery is not advantageous for a career in Italy. It is very difficult for young ceramic specialists to enter universities and research centres, while rescue archaeology offers salaries for carrying out excavations and pro-ducing documentation, but only rarely for studying the findings and publishing the results. Despite all these difficulties, Italian archaeologists are continuing to conduct research, to take part in large numbers in the main events concerning ancient ceramics (e.g. RCRF and LRCW conferences) and to publish important studies, as I hope to show in this paper.

In questo contributo si vuole presentare una panoramica delle ricerche in corso in Italia relativamente alle ceramiche comuni, alle ceramiche da fuoco e alle anfore di età tardo-antica. Lo studio è stato impostato su base regionale: si è cercato di ricostruire come nei diversi distretti, con modalità e tempi diversi, ceramiche comuni ed anfore possano documentare le ultime fasi produttive e commerciali dell’ economia tardo-antica e le dinamiche di passaggio verso l’ alto-medioevo.