Le anfore

Transport containers found inside the 2nd phase of the archaeological site of via Moneta reflect properly the commercial relationships that involved the area of Milan during the Late Republican age. The foodstuffs coming from the Po plain and Adriatic compound dominated the imports, particularly with the Lamboglia 2 amphoras. Although with a lower percentage, the import of the Thyrrenian wine is also documented through the presence of the Dressel 1 amphoras. This fact is significant since this type of amphora is generally rare in Cisalpine Gaul, because of the difficulty of contacts with the Thyrrenian coasts and the adequate quantity of local wine production. It is particularly interesting and unusual the fact that most of the amphoras found were used to transport wine. In fact, during this age oil trade is much less documented, probably due to the preference given to animal fats, while no evidence is available for fish sauce import. Particularly interesting is the result of the archaeometric analysis of a Dressel 1 fragment that reveals its provenance from north-wester n Sicily, for which any parallel have been found in northern Italy. The epigraphy presented on the analysed amphoras consists in stamps exclusively found on the Lamboglia 2 amphoras, graffiti and painted inscriptions (tituli picti) on Lamboglia 2 and Dressel 1 amphoras. The graffiti inscriptions are mainly referred to weight indications, the painted ones seem to relate to the name of the wine or its ageing, and perhaps to the merchant’s identity. Both Lamboglia 2 and Dressel 1 amphoras have been reused in metal craftwork ateliers.