Pottery amphora
Roman, 1st half of the 3rd century AD
Found during excavations by Winchester Museums Service Archaeology Section at Victoria Road, Winchester in the mid- to late 1970s
This large globular amphora came from a cremation burial in the cemetery outside Roman Winchester's north gate. A hole had been knocked in the side of the vessel in order to insert the cremated remains, and the burial was accompanied by another, flat bottomed amphora.
The globular amphorae were used to carry olive oil made in southern Spain, the Roman province of Baetica, whilst the flat bottomed types bore wine from southern France (Gallia). The stamp on the handle of the globular vessel probably represents the Roman estate in Spain where the olive trees grew. In this grave, perhaps the amphorae symbolise hoped-for luxury in the afterlife.
Photo on left hand side by John Crook.
