Friday, December 3, 2010

Pottery research reveals Greek city engaged in long distance trade

Albarelli Jar

Corinth, one of the most famous cities in the Greek world lay partly in ruins. This city fell victim to bubonic plague with high mortality levels that lasted according to the archaeological finds.

The city didn’t recover until into the Middle Ages but recover started in the 9th century when it began to expand. Archaeologists say that the area over what was once a Roman forum turned into a dense mass of houses, workshops, bathhouse and monasteries.

During the 11th century the Corinthians imported albarelli, a medicinal jar with a concave waist. They were brought in from Fustat in Egypt. Albarelli comes from the Middle East but the examples at Corinth are the earliest albarelli that exists. Archaeologists emphasize that they has never seen one this early anywhere in the world.

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