Ceramic building material from the Roman forts on the Colchis coast: archaeology and archaeoceramological analysis

Abstract

The article collects the modest information on the use (and possible production) of ceramic building material by the Roman army in Colchis, using it as a backdrop for presenting the exceptional richness, in quantity as much as diversity, of finds from Gonio/Apsaros. They are made even more exceptional by the signatures found on these products. The article presents documented examples of stamps on bricks, roof tiles and ceramic pipes from the fort and links them with construction project of specific Roman army units in the Cappadocia province. The results of laboratory tests conducted on samples of ceramic products and raw clay from Gonio, presented in Part 2, are an important element of the presented analysis. Based on these results, it has been possible to distinguish two reference groups for the production of which clay from near the fort was used. However, it has not been possible to indicate the specific deposits of such raw material used by the Roman army.