Localizing the Global

The production of black-gloss-pottery in Hellenistic Western Sicily

Abstract: 

From the late 4th century BCE to the dawn of the Roman Empire in the late 1st century BCE, the Mediterranean world experienced a period of unprecedented connectivity. In research, this “Age of Conquests” (A. Chianiotis) is frequently regarded as a phase of pre-modern globalization. However, such a high degree of interconnectedness came along with numerous crisis and military conflicts between various emerging regional powers. This applies especially for Western Sicily, located at the intersection of the zones of interest for Syracuse, Carthage, and Rome. One characteristic of this so-called Hellenistic period is the widespread dissemination of material culture, which at first glance appears highly uniform. This is particularly true for black-gloss pottery, which were produced and used throughout the entire Mediterranean region. On closer examination, however, it becomes evident that despite their apparent uniformity, these ceramics nevertheless display variations and were also utilized in different ways from place to place.

The research project examines how global trends were received and modified by local communities in Western Sicily through the example of black-gloss pottery. Based on comparative case studies at four sites with diverse cultural backgrounds (Monte Iato, Lilybaeum, Segesta, and Cossyra), main objective is to better understand how local communities interacted with black-gloss pottery; weather in production, consumption or in their negotiation. Given the major conflicts of this period, potential similarities between the various communities that might indicate a shared regional culture are of particular interest; regardless of the political, cultural, or ethnic affiliations among the groups involved.

A key prerequisite for answering these questions is knowledge of which types of black-gloss ceramics were produced at which locations. For this purpose, microscopic investigation of the vessels’ clay is combined with chemical examination by neutron activation analysis.  Incorporating archaeological data, it is not only possible to determine the production sites of certain vessels, but also to identify distribution patterns, potential trade routes, and the manner of their utilization. Black-gloss pottery has been consumed by broader social segments of society. Thus, the project offers an important counterbalance to prevailing narratives on Hellenistic western Sicily, which tend to reflect rather an elite-centred perspective by emphasizing monumental architecture, urban planning, and historiography. It is therefore an approach, that offers new insights into cultural diversity, creativity, and resilience of an entire region in an era of profound change by taking a local bottom-up perspective.