This paper is aimed to present the site-assemblage of millstones from Orvieto throughout 250 finds mainly rough-outs located in the gardens. All are made of leucitite, a grey gritty lava extended from Bolsena to the Vesuvius. Part of them (12%) is from a discovery area in the Paglia River. Some 75 rotary low millstones (MRB), a new series, and 129 Pompeian Style Millstones (MSP) 9 been published by D. Peacock in 1986, are described through major parameters, among which the side angle that is especially high (from 10 to 23° on the MRB). We also present the kneading machines, which as the Pompeian Style material does, also bear some epigraphic marks. The Orvietan metae reveal to be high, as a support function. Their lower plan, partially hollowed, provides a base-ring. Examination of angles and metrology of the measurements lead to the generating geometry of the stones. Several cases of double standards suggest two production lines had possibly existed at Orvieto with slightly different norms, either two manufacturing traditions, two workshops or even two periods. Final point, a few stones raise the question of their possible hydraulic motion.

Orvieto, centre producteur de meules dans l’Antiquité : premières données issues du programme ORViAMM

Buonopane Alfredo;
2021-01-01

Abstract

This paper is aimed to present the site-assemblage of millstones from Orvieto throughout 250 finds mainly rough-outs located in the gardens. All are made of leucitite, a grey gritty lava extended from Bolsena to the Vesuvius. Part of them (12%) is from a discovery area in the Paglia River. Some 75 rotary low millstones (MRB), a new series, and 129 Pompeian Style Millstones (MSP) 9 been published by D. Peacock in 1986, are described through major parameters, among which the side angle that is especially high (from 10 to 23° on the MRB). We also present the kneading machines, which as the Pompeian Style material does, also bear some epigraphic marks. The Orvietan metae reveal to be high, as a support function. Their lower plan, partially hollowed, provides a base-ring. Examination of angles and metrology of the measurements lead to the generating geometry of the stones. Several cases of double standards suggest two production lines had possibly existed at Orvieto with slightly different norms, either two manufacturing traditions, two workshops or even two periods. Final point, a few stones raise the question of their possible hydraulic motion.
2021
978-2-35518-109-2
Orvieto, millstones, millstone workshop, roman economy
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11562/1042841
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