Ceramica e contesti tardoantichi dalle indagini del Progetto Ostia Marina

Archaeological excavations carried out by the Ostia Marina Project led to the discovery of the ‘Caupona of the god Pan’ (3rd century AD), which became a Mithraeum during the 4th century AD. Inside the spelaeum (room 1) a ritual well was discovered, connected to a dolium located at a depth of 2.50 m. Four fill layers have been documented inside the well. The excavation led to the recovery of a large number of ceramic containers associated both with the phase of use and abandonment of the well. As for the phase of use, mainly common ware jugs have been found, probably used to draw water from the well. Most of these jugs belong to two morphological types: within these two groups the forms are very similar. In both cases these are containers frequently found in Ostia, which could testify a local production. In the most recent fill layer, which can be associated with the final phase of the structure, fragmentary amphorae and large common ware containers have mostly been found. African products are attested by sporadic fragments. Italian imports are the most attested and can be attributed, generically, to the family of the small, flatbottomed amphorae from southern Italy and Sicily. Two specimens can be included in the group of amphorae produced at Naxos in Sicily in Late Antiquity, called ‘Naxos flat-bottomed type, Form 2’. Together with these amphorae, many other fragments of largesized containers in common ware have been found, including a mono-handled vessel almost completely intact, perhaps an African product.