Il reimpiego delle anfore tardo antiche. Considerazioni sulle sepolture ad enchytrismòs in Toscana
In: Archeologia Classica: 64, 2013
Permalink: http://digital.casalini.it/3123584
This paper deals with the necropolis of Late Antiquity in Tuscany where burials in amphora
have been found. The aim is to obtain a census of this type of burial through analysis of published
data.
This study outlines an overview of the typing and dating of amphorae used for this purpose,
providing information also useful for dating of the necropolis where they are located. This type of
burial in Tuscany was practised until the 6th century AD, when there was a significant decrease in
the importation of goods transported in amphorae. Although the urban centres maintained a substantial volume of trade in the following century as well, burials in amphora continued until the 7th
century AD. The distribution of burials in amphorae is well-documented not only on coastal sites
and harbours along the Tuscan coast, where there was clearly a greater availability of this kind
of transport container, but also further inland, where there were urban centres intensely involved
in trading, including notably Florence and the settlements in the Florentine plain along the Arno.
In conclusion, the data presented in this paper reveal that the study of burials in amphora (enchytrismòs) can provide useful albeit “indirect” evidence as to the intensity and volume of trading in
the sites where they are observed. These data therefore demonstrate the lack of influence of religious
beliefs and cultural traditions in the choice of placing human remains in amphora, the choice being
more likely motivated by a predominantly functional criterion.