Overview

During the Roman period, inland regions are often assumed to have been difficult to access, with imports and trade dropping off as distance from the coast increased. Long-distance maritime trade has been the subject of intensive study, but the complex dynamics that governed inland trade have not seen the same level of interest. Within this book, Northern Italy serves as a case study to explore the role transport cost and consumer choice played in the distribution of local and imported goods throughout inland regions. Using three contrasting, quantified datasets of amphorae, finewares, and marble (together forming the Material Data in Northern Italy (MADINI) dataset), chronological and spatial patterns in inland trade are analysed using aoristic analysis and hierarchical clustering. The results demonstrate that inland trade was far more complex than a simple regression of imports as distance from the coast increased. Clear zones of consumption across Northern Italy are seen in the distribution of the material data, often closely linked to transport costs. While the river network is shown to have been a crucial in facilitating inland transport, the significance of trans-mountain trade across the Alps and the Apennines has been underestimated. Areas furthest inland are often shown to have had the greatest diversity in the provenance and types of material, as opposed to coastal areas which demonstrate a more limited selection. The results highlight the diverse array of factors governing inland trade and the interplay between cost and choice in the decisions made by consumers.

Full Product Details

Author:   James Page (Maria Skłodowska-Curie Fellow, Centro Nacional de Supercomputación, Barcelona)
Publisher:   Archaeopress
Imprint:   Archaeopress Archaeology
Weight:   0.945kg
ISBN:  

9781803279732

ISBN 10:   1803279737
Pages:   192
Publication Date:   20 March 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

Introduction Past Research on Trade in Northern Italy Towards a Quantitative Approach            The MADINI Dataset Methods and Approaches Transport and Infrastructure: The Backbone of Economic Networks The Road Network The River Network The Canal Network Interconnected Infrastructure ‘The Richest District’. Production and Exports from Northern Italy Transforming the Landscape: Adaptation and Exploitation Staple Goods: Wine, Cereals, and Oil Exports: Northern Italic Produce in the Roman World Amphorae: Containers and Consumables Zones of Production Chronological Trends Geographic Trends Amphora-borne Trade in Northern Italy Conclusions Red-Slipped Finewares: Local and Long-Distance Consumption Fineware Types and Zones of Production Chronological Trends Geographic Trends Trade in Red-Slip Finewares in Northern Italy Conclusion Decorative Stone: Indulgence and Compromise Zones of Extraction Exploring Stone and Marble Trends The Stone Trade in Northern Italy Conclusions Trade, Transport, and Economy in Northern Italy Transport Costs and Networks Zones of Consumption Inland Trade: Costs and Other Factors Chronological Variation: Amphorae and Finewares A Disconnected and Isolated Region? Conclusions Appendix A: Fluvial Navigation in Northern Italy Appendix B: Values Used in the Hierarchical Clustering Amphorae Red-Slipped Finewares Decorative Stone Bibliography

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Author Information

James Page is an early career Roman archaeologist and currently a Maria Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at the Centro Nacional de Supercomputación, Barcelona. He achieved his PhD at the University of Edinburgh in 2022, before going on to become a Rome Fellow at the British School at Rome. His research explores Roman economic and societal interactions with waterways, ranging from transport and trade networks to community vulnerabilities and responses to hydrological risk. An active excavator, he is involved in several field projects, most recently the Upper Sabina Tiberina Project excavations at the Roman villa at Vacone, Lazio, Italy.

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