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Late Roman imported red slip ware in the Metelis region (Alexandria, Egypt)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 September 2016

Cristina Mondin
Cristina Mondin*
Affiliation:
University of Padua.
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Abstract

The study of red slip ware (RSW) imports in the Metelis region was bolstered by the significant presence of fine wares at the site of Kom al-Ahmer. The ancient town is located 44 km southeast of Alexandria. The study of the pottery is based on over 32,000 sherds, of which 472 are fine ware and 364 are imports from the Mediterranean basin and Upper Egypt. The flow of imported fine wares reflects the political events affecting Africa Proconsularis, in particular the invasion of the Vandals. Imports from Africa represent almost a monopoly on fine pottery imports through the first half of the fifth century. After the invasion, these were significantly reduced. However, there was no decline in the number of imported vessels and, from the mid-fifth century onwards, a considerable amount of Cypriot RSW and a smaller quantity of examples from Upper Egypt could be found. Thus, the change in pottery imports involved their areas of origin. After the Byzantine Empire conquered the North African region, pottery imports from Africa resumed in many Mediterranean contexts. This does not seem to have been the case at Metelis, where Cypriot RSW remained dominant and the imports of Egyptian RSW A and Aswan fine ware increased.

إن دراسة استيراد الأواني الفخارية الحمراء إلى منطقة متيليس (غرب دلتا النيل ) تعززت من خلال الوجود الواضح للآنية الرقيقة الفاخرة في موقع كوم الأحمر. تقع المدينة القديمة 44 كم إلى جنوب شرق الإسكندرية. إن دراسة الأواني الفخارية هناك تعتمد على 32,000 شقفة، منها 472 من الأواني الرقيقة و 364 مستوردة من حوض البحر الأبيض المتوسط ومن منطقة صعيد مصر (مصر العليا). إن تدفق استيراد الآنية الفخارية الرقيقة يعكس الأحداث السياسية التي أثرت على إفريقيا البروقنصلية (مقاطعة رومانية في إفريقيا) وبالأخص غزواللصوص . حيث كانت الواردات من إفريقيا تمثل ما قد يكون حكراً على استيراد الآنية الفخارية الرقيقة خلال النصف الأول من القرن الخامس، وقد نقص ذلك كثيراً بعد الغزو، ومع هذا، لم يقل عدد الأوعية الستوردة. ومنذ منتصف القرن الخامس وما بعده، كان بالامكان إيجاد عدد لا بأس به من الآنية الفخارية الحمراء القبرصية وعدد أقل من صعيد مصر. وهكذا فإن الاختلاف في استيراد الفخار كان متعلقاً بمناطق منشأها. وبعد أن غزت الإمبراطورية البيزنطية منطقة شمال إفريقيا، تم استئناف الاستيراد من إفريقيا على عدة أصعدة. ولكن لم يكن الحال كذلك في متيليس، حيث بقيت الأواني الفخارية الحمراء القبرصية هي السائدة وازداد استيراد الأواني الفخارية الحمراء المصرية والأواني الرقيقة من أسوان .

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Articles
Information
Libyan Studies , Volume 47 , November 2016 , pp. 129 - 147
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Libyan Studies 2016 

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