The Making of a Roman Imperial Estate: Archaeology in the Vicus at Vagnari, Puglia

Excavation reports and analysis of material remains from Vagnari, southeast Italy, facilitate a detailed phasing of a rural settlement, both in the late Republican period, when it was established on land leased from the Roman state, and later when it became the hub (vicus) of a vast agricultural estate owned by the emperor himself.

The Making of a Roman Imperial Estate presents excavations and analysis of material remains at Vagnari, in southeast Italy, which have facilitated a detailed and precise phasing of a rural settlement, both in the late Republican period in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, when it was established on land leased from the Roman state after Rome’s conquest of the region, and when it became the hub (vicus) of a vast agricultural estate owned by the emperor himself in the early 1st century AD. This research addresses a range of crucial questions concerning the nature of activity at the estate and the changes in population in this transitional period. It also maps the development of the vicus in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, shaping our understanding of the diversity and the mechanics of the imperial economy and the role of the vicus and its inhabitants in generating revenues for the emperor. By contextualising the estate in its landscape and exploring its economic and social impact on Apulia and beyond, archaeological research gives us extremely valuable insight into the making of a Roman imperial estate.

List of Figures List of Tables List of Plates Preface and Acknowledgements - Maureen Carroll CHAPTER 1: Introduction. Exploring the Imperial Estate at Vagnari, 2012-2019 - Maureen Carroll CHAPTER 2: The Topographical Context of Vagnari in the Roman Period: A Brief History of the Study Area - Alastair Small CHAPTER 3: The Landscape Context of Vagnari, Past and Present - Peter Wigand CHAPTER 4: Vagnari Vicus: Buildings and Chronology - Maureen Carroll, Kelsey Madden, and Jonathan Moulton CHAPTER 5: The Vessel Pottery and Lamps - David R. Griffiths CHAPTER 6: The Dolia Defossa and Viticulture at Vagnari - Maureen Carroll, Giuseppe Montana, Luciana Randazzo, Donatella Barca, and Benjamin Stern CHAPTER 7: Vessel and Window Glass - Camilla Bertini and Victoria Lucas CHAPTER 8: Roman Republican and Imperial Coins - David Wigg-Wolf CHAPTER 9: Copper-Alloy Artefacts - Stefanie Hoss CHAPTER 10: Iron Artefacts - Louis-Olivier Lortie, Maureen Carroll, and Stefanie Hoss CHAPTER 11: Ferrous Metallurgical Debris and its Chemical Analysis - Louis-Olivier Lortie CHAPTER 12: Lead, Lead-Working Debris, and Lead Sourcing - Maureen Carroll, Jane Evans, Vanessa Pashley, and Louis-Olivier Lortie CHAPTER 13: Building Ceramics: Brick, Tile, and Clay - Maureen Carroll, Giuseppe Montana, Luciana Randazzo, and Donatella Barca CHAPTER 14 : Marble and Stone Revetment and Pavements: Context and Provenance - Maureen Carroll, Renato Giarrusso, Giuseppe Montana, Luciana Randazzo, and Giovanna Scopelliti CHAPTER 15: Painted Wall Plaster - Maureen Carroll CHAPTER 16: Worked Stone Utensils - Maureen Carroll CHAPTER 17: Loom Weights and Textile Weaving at Vagnari - Beatrice Triozzi CHAPTER 18: Worked Bone - Maureen Carroll CHAPTER 19: Animal Remains from Vagnari: Bones and Shells - Angela Trentacoste CHAPTER 20: The Botanical Remains - Matthew Stirn and Rebecca Sgouros CHAPTER 21: Human Remains in the Vicus - Tracy L. Prowse CHAPTER 22: Parasites and Human Health at Vagnari - Marissa L. Ledger and Piers D. Mitchell CHAPTER 23: The Making of an Imperial Estate - Maureen Carroll Sintesi in Lingua Italiana della Ricerca presentata nel Volume - Beatrice Triozzi APPENDIX 1: Catalogue of Excavated Features and DepositsAccording to Phases APPENDIX 2: List of Catalogued Small Finds APPENDIX 3: Pottery Fabric Descriptions APPENDIX 4: Catalogue of Featured Ceramic Vessels APPENDIX 5: Catalogue of Oil Lamps APPENDIX 6: Inventory Recording Form for Human Skeletons Bibliography PLATES,

List of Figures ;
List of Tables ;
List of Plates ;
Preface and Acknowledgements – Maureen Carroll CHAPTER 1: Introduction. Exploring the Imperial Estate at Vagnari, 2012–2019 – Maureen Carroll CHAPTER 2: The Topographical Context of Vagnari in the Roman Period: A Brief History of the Study Area – Alastair Small [Open Access: Download] CHAPTER 3: The Landscape Context of Vagnari, Past and Present – Peter Wigand CHAPTER 4: Vagnari Vicus: Buildings and Chronology – Maureen Carroll, Kelsey Madden, and Jonathan Moulton CHAPTER 5: The Vessel Pottery and Lamps – David R. Griffiths CHAPTER 6: The Dolia Defossa and Viticulture at Vagnari – Maureen Carroll, Giuseppe Montana, Luciana Randazzo, Donatella Barca, and Benjamin Stern CHAPTER 7: Vessel and Window Glass – Camilla Bertini and Victoria Lucas CHAPTER 8: Roman Republican and Imperial Coins – David Wigg-Wolf CHAPTER 9: Copper-Alloy Artefacts – Stefanie Hoss CHAPTER 10: Iron Artefacts – Louis-Olivier Lortie, Maureen Carroll, and Stefanie Hoss CHAPTER 11: Ferrous Metallurgical Debris and its Chemical Analysis – Louis-Olivier Lortie CHAPTER 12: Lead, Lead-Working Debris, and Lead Sourcing – Maureen Carroll, Jane Evans, Vanessa Pashley, and Louis-Olivier Lortie CHAPTER 13: Building Ceramics: Brick, Tile, and Clay – Maureen Carroll, Giuseppe Montana, Luciana Randazzo, and Donatella Barca CHAPTER 14 : Marble and Stone Revetment and Pavements: Context and Provenance – Maureen Carroll, Renato Giarrusso, Giuseppe Montana, Luciana Randazzo, and Giovanna Scopelliti CHAPTER 15: Painted Wall Plaster – Maureen Carroll CHAPTER 16: Worked Stone Utensils – Maureen Carroll CHAPTER 17: Loom Weights and Textile Weaving at Vagnari – Beatrice Triozzi CHAPTER 18: Worked Bone – Maureen Carroll CHAPTER 19: Animal Remains from Vagnari: Bones and Shells – Angela Trentacoste CHAPTER 20: The Botanical Remains – Matthew Stirn and Rebecca Sgouros CHAPTER 21: Human Remains in the Vicus – Tracy L. Prowse CHAPTER 22: Parasites and Human Health at Vagnari – Marissa L. Ledger and Piers D. Mitchell CHAPTER 23: The Making of an Imperial Estate – Maureen Carroll Sintesi in Lingua Italiana della Ricerca presentata nel Volume – Beatrice Triozzi APPENDIX 1: Catalogue of Excavated Features and DepositsAccording to Phases ;
APPENDIX 2: List of Catalogued Small Finds ;
APPENDIX 3: Pottery Fabric Descriptions ;
APPENDIX 4: Catalogue of Featured Ceramic Vessels ;
APPENDIX 5: Catalogue of Oil Lamps ;
APPENDIX 6: Inventory Recording Form for Human Skeletons ;
Bibliography ;
PLATES