Monte Testaccio

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Monte Testaccio or Monte dei cocci is an artificial hill composed of pottery fragments coming entirely from the amphorae and diotae jars used to transport grains and liquids, and especially olive oil, into ancient Rome via the Tiber.

The dump was used until the end of the 4th century. It is now overgrown with grass and trees, but archaeologists have calculated the depth of the fragments as 45 m and the circumference as 1017 m.

The earliest pots were predominantly used for oil, mainly from Baetica. Because the maker's seals and other notes (e.g. tituli picti) are still available on the fragments, they are a rich primary source for understanding Roman commerce.

The Monte gives its name to the Testaccio district of Rome.

References

Adkins L. & R. 1993 An Introduction to the Romans Chartwell ISBN 0-7858-1609-7 (Quotes the 1,017 m circumference).

External links

Story and Pictures of Testaccio
Pictures of the hill from various angles.
The Archaeological Institute of America will be conducting volunteer field work on the mound from September 25 2005, they estimate the height of the mound at 45 metres.
Monte Testaccio website by Universitat de Roma "La Sapienza" and Universitat de Barcelona

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Last updated on Tuesday February 12, 2008 at 07:10:53 PST (GMT -0800)
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