ABSTRACT
Southern Italy experienced significant migration from Greece from the eighth century BCE onwards. Strong and persistent levels of cultural diversity over the next half millennium might suggest a relatively low degree of contact and mobility within the region. The evidence provided by literary sources, epigraphy, genetic and isotope studies, and archaeological excavation does relatively little to dispel this impression. Studies of the mobility of artisans present a dramatically different picture, especially from the mid-fifth century BCE when red-figured pottery began to be made. The complexity of the decoration of this pottery and its widespread distribution in the region allow us to trace the movements of individuals and groups of artisans. Dozens of examples of artisan mobility can be traced among the Greek cities and between them and the Italic centres. Cases of migration, of itinerancy, and of probable travel for training in distant workshops can be found. This has implications for how we perceive relations between the diverse cultural groups of the region.
