ABSTRACT
Among all late Roman pottery forms, amphorae are justifiably regarded as the best indicators of economic activity. Being essentially large containers used for transporting foodstuffs (olive oil and wine being the commonest), they relate directly (unlike fine wares) not only to the fundamental needs of society, but also to the primary commodities traded.1 Knowing when and where amphorae were manufactured, where they travelled, what they carried and in what quantities, helps us form to a large extent a realistic picture of the direction and forces of the Roman economy. The answers to the above questions are constantly improved as the scope of methods used for amphora analysis continues to widen. It is necessary, therefore, before we embark on ‘mapping trade by the amphora’, to assess these methods and examine to what extent they influence our picture of the economy of the ancient world.
