Excavations at Carthage, Volume II, 2

These two books form the final publication of a major excavation on the side of the famous Circular (or Naval) Harbour of Carthage. Volume II,1 publishes the main findings, including the remains of the dry docks for the Carthaginian navy. The focus is mainly on the Roman-Byzantine periods: for the first time ever, the probable remains of an imprerial clothworks or gynaeceum have been revealed. The book is also an exercise in achaeological method. Substantial space is devoted to discussions, including ambitious reconstructions of the use of space, attempts to set the discoveries in a wider context, and critical looks at the methodology and argumentation used in this type of urban archaeology, which has been charactersistic of British work over the last 25 years. Volume II,2 reports on the pottery from the well stratified urban sequence which spans the late Punic to the late Byzantine periods. Of particular importance is the early Roman pottery which includes a a wide range of fine wares including eastern and Italian sigillatas, lamps, amphorae and dometics wares. There is also a summary of quantitative data for all the ceramics. The information contained in Volume II,2 will enable further reconstruction of the patterns of commerce of the Roman Mediterranean. This is as comprehensive a publication of an urban excavation as has ever been attempted. This book is intended for archaeologists of the Mediterranean, ancient historians.