DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.47495#0052
28
3. Ephesus and Cayster Valley Food and Amphora Production
Ephesus production, Local fabrics
To investigate the possibility of local production, some Hellenistic amphorae (Nikandros group = the Mush-
room rim type) and Local Aegean 1 and Local Aegean 2 were examined. The one-handled vessels, formerly
called ‘micaceous water jars’, supposedly produced in the Meander Valley, also need further investigation.
We have also re-analysed material to determine whether the Late Roman 3 amphorae came from Ephesus and
compared them with Ephesus 56 amphorae.
3.3 Petrological analysis
No villas or amphora workshops have yet been uncovered in the vicinity of Ephesus. Geological surveys
have identified several types of clay in the Cayster Valley and in the region of Ku§adasi. After comparison with
petrographical analyses of the amphorae produced from Hellenistic times to the Late Roman period, three main
groups of raw materials could be identified.
3.3.1 Previous research
A comprehensive geological survey was undertaken in the region during the 1990s. In addition to the sam-
ples from the local clay deposits, different types of ceramics and amphorae were also collected at Ephesus, and
from various other sites off the coast of Asia Minor, such as Samos, Milet, Didima, Priene, etc93. The results
of this survey are documented in an unpublished manuscript and have also been used as reference material94.
Some of the data, however, has already been mentioned in other publications95. Agora F 65, Agora J 46, Agora
M 255 - 282 and LR 3 (called Peacock and Williams 45) types of the Terrace House 2 were analysed. R. Sauer
distinguished Fabric A and Fabric B on the basis of these analyses. They were then compared to the material
selected from the Tetragonos Agora and the Terrace House.
The ongoing research: In recent years, the Hellenistic and Late Hellenistic amphorae have also been
analysed. The LR3 and Ephesus 56 amphorae, collected at Arap-Dere (2007), have been studied and
analysed.
3.3.2 Fabric A (Petrology Table 1; Graph 1)
The dominance of garnet within the heavy mineral assemblages is typical for Fabric A. Subordinate to rare rutile and other TiO2
modifications, kyanite, staurolite, hornblende, tourmaline, and rare zircon and epidote/zoisite, can be found.
The thin sections show an oxidised matrix with a temper content of about 15%. The grain size of the particles is highly variable
(up to 2.5 mm). The temper grains consist mainly of mica (muscovite, phlogopite), mono- and polycrystalline quartz. Subordi-
nate K-feldspar, heavy minerals, crystalline rock fragments and iron oxide aggregates can also be observed.
The crystalline rock fragments consist mainly of mica-schist (partly garnet bearing) and gneiss.
Comment'. The utilised raw materials are decalcified or weakly calcareous, probably derived from Neogene sediments. Clay
deposits of similar petrographical composition exist, for example, near Ku§adasi, but also occur in the Meander Valley.
R.S.
The analysed amphorae of the Agora and the Terrace House 2 are
Agora F 65-66 type:
Ephesian fine grained Fabric: nos. 81, 91. Similar fabrics are also known from common ware and
bricks produced at Ephesos
Ephesian fine to medium grained Fabric: no. 80
Ephesian coarse grained Fabric: no. 89
93 This research was sponsored by U. Outschar’s FWF-Project (No. 9280).
94 Sauer 1995.
95 Outschar 1993, 52; Bezeczky 2005c, 205; Ladstatter 2008, 180.
3. Ephesus and Cayster Valley Food and Amphora Production
Ephesus production, Local fabrics
To investigate the possibility of local production, some Hellenistic amphorae (Nikandros group = the Mush-
room rim type) and Local Aegean 1 and Local Aegean 2 were examined. The one-handled vessels, formerly
called ‘micaceous water jars’, supposedly produced in the Meander Valley, also need further investigation.
We have also re-analysed material to determine whether the Late Roman 3 amphorae came from Ephesus and
compared them with Ephesus 56 amphorae.
3.3 Petrological analysis
No villas or amphora workshops have yet been uncovered in the vicinity of Ephesus. Geological surveys
have identified several types of clay in the Cayster Valley and in the region of Ku§adasi. After comparison with
petrographical analyses of the amphorae produced from Hellenistic times to the Late Roman period, three main
groups of raw materials could be identified.
3.3.1 Previous research
A comprehensive geological survey was undertaken in the region during the 1990s. In addition to the sam-
ples from the local clay deposits, different types of ceramics and amphorae were also collected at Ephesus, and
from various other sites off the coast of Asia Minor, such as Samos, Milet, Didima, Priene, etc93. The results
of this survey are documented in an unpublished manuscript and have also been used as reference material94.
Some of the data, however, has already been mentioned in other publications95. Agora F 65, Agora J 46, Agora
M 255 - 282 and LR 3 (called Peacock and Williams 45) types of the Terrace House 2 were analysed. R. Sauer
distinguished Fabric A and Fabric B on the basis of these analyses. They were then compared to the material
selected from the Tetragonos Agora and the Terrace House.
The ongoing research: In recent years, the Hellenistic and Late Hellenistic amphorae have also been
analysed. The LR3 and Ephesus 56 amphorae, collected at Arap-Dere (2007), have been studied and
analysed.
3.3.2 Fabric A (Petrology Table 1; Graph 1)
The dominance of garnet within the heavy mineral assemblages is typical for Fabric A. Subordinate to rare rutile and other TiO2
modifications, kyanite, staurolite, hornblende, tourmaline, and rare zircon and epidote/zoisite, can be found.
The thin sections show an oxidised matrix with a temper content of about 15%. The grain size of the particles is highly variable
(up to 2.5 mm). The temper grains consist mainly of mica (muscovite, phlogopite), mono- and polycrystalline quartz. Subordi-
nate K-feldspar, heavy minerals, crystalline rock fragments and iron oxide aggregates can also be observed.
The crystalline rock fragments consist mainly of mica-schist (partly garnet bearing) and gneiss.
Comment'. The utilised raw materials are decalcified or weakly calcareous, probably derived from Neogene sediments. Clay
deposits of similar petrographical composition exist, for example, near Ku§adasi, but also occur in the Meander Valley.
R.S.
The analysed amphorae of the Agora and the Terrace House 2 are
Agora F 65-66 type:
Ephesian fine grained Fabric: nos. 81, 91. Similar fabrics are also known from common ware and
bricks produced at Ephesos
Ephesian fine to medium grained Fabric: no. 80
Ephesian coarse grained Fabric: no. 89
93 This research was sponsored by U. Outschar’s FWF-Project (No. 9280).
94 Sauer 1995.
95 Outschar 1993, 52; Bezeczky 2005c, 205; Ladstatter 2008, 180.
