The paper concerns the results of research activities, still in progress, of the Italian Archaeological Expedition at Hierapolis in Phrygia (Director Prof. Francesco D'Andria), that during last years (2004-2008) have allowed the discovery of numerous archaeological remains referable to facilities for olive oil and wine production, dating to Imperial Roman and Byzantine periods. The archaeological evidence was discovered both during excavations in the urban area, and most of all during archaeological surveys carried out inside the city and in its territory, in the eastern part of the Çürüksu (ancient Lykos) river valley and in the plateau north of Hierapolis. Installations for olive oil (and perhaps also wine) production were excavated in the northern part of the ancient city, between the Frontinus Gate and the Tomb of Flavius Zeuxis, and in the area of the so-called "Great Edifice", respectively dating to Imperial and Middle Byzantine periods; remains of the same type of installations (and of the same periods) were also found during intra-site survey in the central and eastern areas of the city. During archaeological research in the territory that was under the authority of Hierapolis, a rich documentation referable to installations for wine and most of all for olive oil productions (the last one particularly in the territory immediately surrounding the city) was also discovered, always connected to farms or small rural villages of Roman and Byzantine periods: particularly, were found monolithic crushing basins for olives and convex mill stones, and stone parts of presses, such as slotted piers (arbores), press beds (arae), large upright stones with a niche for anchoring the fixed end of the press beam (prelum) and many weight-stones. The remains of presses found during research at Hierapolis and its territory for the most part were connected to lever and screw presses, described by both Pliny the Elder and Hero of Alexandria. This type of press was used in the Mediterranean basin during Roman period, but the vast majority of screw presses found in the Orient, however, are from the Late Roman and the Byzantine periods and later. In the territory of Hierapolis, the archaeological evidence for this type of press consists of a lot of cylindrical and rectangular screw weights, respectively of the so-called "Samaria" and "Arginunta" types; these types are also widespread in the Mediterranean basin during Roman Imperial period, but in the Near East they are mostly found in later contexts, beginning from Late Roman times. Regarding the olive crushers found in Hierapolis, these are essentially of two types with monolithic round crushing basins and revolving mill stones: one has a concave crushing surface with a central protrusion with a small socket or without socket, while the other, less common, shows concave crushing surface with a central sunken socket. The mill stones can be cylindrical or, more frequently, convex (orbes), like in the trapetum described by Cato.
Oil and wine production in Hierapolis of Phrygia and its territory during Roman and Byzantine age: documentation from archaeological excavations and surveys
G Scardozzi
2010
Abstract
The paper concerns the results of research activities, still in progress, of the Italian Archaeological Expedition at Hierapolis in Phrygia (Director Prof. Francesco D'Andria), that during last years (2004-2008) have allowed the discovery of numerous archaeological remains referable to facilities for olive oil and wine production, dating to Imperial Roman and Byzantine periods. The archaeological evidence was discovered both during excavations in the urban area, and most of all during archaeological surveys carried out inside the city and in its territory, in the eastern part of the Çürüksu (ancient Lykos) river valley and in the plateau north of Hierapolis. Installations for olive oil (and perhaps also wine) production were excavated in the northern part of the ancient city, between the Frontinus Gate and the Tomb of Flavius Zeuxis, and in the area of the so-called "Great Edifice", respectively dating to Imperial and Middle Byzantine periods; remains of the same type of installations (and of the same periods) were also found during intra-site survey in the central and eastern areas of the city. During archaeological research in the territory that was under the authority of Hierapolis, a rich documentation referable to installations for wine and most of all for olive oil productions (the last one particularly in the territory immediately surrounding the city) was also discovered, always connected to farms or small rural villages of Roman and Byzantine periods: particularly, were found monolithic crushing basins for olives and convex mill stones, and stone parts of presses, such as slotted piers (arbores), press beds (arae), large upright stones with a niche for anchoring the fixed end of the press beam (prelum) and many weight-stones. The remains of presses found during research at Hierapolis and its territory for the most part were connected to lever and screw presses, described by both Pliny the Elder and Hero of Alexandria. This type of press was used in the Mediterranean basin during Roman period, but the vast majority of screw presses found in the Orient, however, are from the Late Roman and the Byzantine periods and later. In the territory of Hierapolis, the archaeological evidence for this type of press consists of a lot of cylindrical and rectangular screw weights, respectively of the so-called "Samaria" and "Arginunta" types; these types are also widespread in the Mediterranean basin during Roman Imperial period, but in the Near East they are mostly found in later contexts, beginning from Late Roman times. Regarding the olive crushers found in Hierapolis, these are essentially of two types with monolithic round crushing basins and revolving mill stones: one has a concave crushing surface with a central protrusion with a small socket or without socket, while the other, less common, shows concave crushing surface with a central sunken socket. The mill stones can be cylindrical or, more frequently, convex (orbes), like in the trapetum described by Cato.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
