The
publication
of
M.
Mackensen's
essay
on
the
African
terra
sigillata
workshop
of
El
Mahrine,
in
northern
Tunisia,
represents
a
benchmark
for
the
recent
studies
on
this
class
of
pottery.
Although
he
focuses
particularly
on
the
ateliers
of
a
specific
site,
Mackensen
extends
his
scope
to
include
the
entire
production
of
African
terra
sigillata
from
the
fourth
to
the
seventh
century
A.D.
He
also
critically
examines
a
set
-
of
paramount
importance
-
of
stratigraphie
contexts
from
the
latest
excavations
in
Carthage.
The
aim
of
the
authors
has
been
to
review
and
discuss
in
detail
the
data
and
the
evaluations
provided
by
Mackensen.
Also,
according
to
their
specific
competence,
they
have
thoroughly
studied
the
lamps
and
the
fine
tableware
according
to
typology,
decorative
patterns,
production
centres,
area
of
diffusion,
and
so
on.
This
essay
also
aims
to
provide
a
survey
of
the
most
recent
data
and
evidence
in
this
field
and
on
the
problems
-
also
historical
and
economical
-
yet
to
be
completely
solved.
