Une étude récente publiée par le Journal of field archaeology en 2006 donne des éléments très intéressants sur les rapports commerciaux entre l’Albanie actuelle et le marché méditerranéen des matériaux pendant l’Antiquité. Jusqu’à maintenant, il n’y avait pas eu d’études portant sur l’origine des pierres trouvées sur les sites archéologiques albanais. A partir d’un échantillon de 31 meules d’origine volcanique, dont 21 provenant du site d’Apollonia et 10 de Butrint, une équipe a pu apporter quelques premiers éléments de réponses à ce sujet. Après une étude précise de la texture, des minéraux et de la composition chimique, on parvient à identifier leurs lieux d’origine. Toutes les meules provenant d’Apollonia et cinq de Butrint ont les mêmes signatures chimiques que d’autres échantillons d’origine sicilienne. Quant aux autres échantillons de Butrint, elles proviennent de carrières situées dans les îles des Cyclades, plus particulièrement de Melos. Ces pierres constituent vraisemblablement le plus ancien témoignage de l’exploitation des carrières de Mélos car on n’en connaissait pas de traces aussi anciennes.
Tammie L. GERKE, Sharon R. STOCKER, Jack L. DAVIS, Barry MAYNARD, Craig DIETSCH, “Sourcing volcanic millstones from Greco-roman sites in Albania”, Journal of field archaeology, vol. 31, n° 2, 2006, p. 137-146.
Abstract : Provenience studies provide insights concerning trade in various goods, such as millstones. This is the first attempt to source millstones from Albania. Thirty-one vesicular volcanic millstones, predominately from the Greek and Roman periods, were obtained from two sites, 21 from Apollonia and ten from Butrint. The purpose of this study was to determine the provenience of these millstones using textural, mineralogical, and chemical data. The compositions of the samples were compared to those of vesicular volcanic sources in the central and eastern Mediterranean. Eight viable sources were initially identified based on major element chemistry; these were ultimately reduced to three based on trace element provenience studies. All of the Apollonia and five of the Butrint millstones have chemical signatures similar to those of Sicilian sources (the Iblean Fields and Mt. Etna). The remaining five Butrint millstones are chemically similar to stones from quarries other on the Cycladic island of Melos other than Rema (another Melian quarry), suggesting that Melian sources were exploited earlier than previously thought. The results of this preliminary study indicate there was no preference for a given source region at a particular time in the past. They also provide a baseline for future provenience studies of millstone trade patterns in Albania.
Tammie L. GERKE, Sharon R. STOCKER, Jack L. DAVIS, Barry MAYNARD, Craig DIETSCH, “Sourcing volcanic millstones from Greco-roman sites in Albania”, Journal of field archaeology, vol. 31, n° 2, 2006, p. 137-146.
Abstract : Provenience studies provide insights concerning trade in various goods, such as millstones. This is the first attempt to source millstones from Albania. Thirty-one vesicular volcanic millstones, predominately from the Greek and Roman periods, were obtained from two sites, 21 from Apollonia and ten from Butrint. The purpose of this study was to determine the provenience of these millstones using textural, mineralogical, and chemical data. The compositions of the samples were compared to those of vesicular volcanic sources in the central and eastern Mediterranean. Eight viable sources were initially identified based on major element chemistry; these were ultimately reduced to three based on trace element provenience studies. All of the Apollonia and five of the Butrint millstones have chemical signatures similar to those of Sicilian sources (the Iblean Fields and Mt. Etna). The remaining five Butrint millstones are chemically similar to stones from quarries other on the Cycladic island of Melos other than Rema (another Melian quarry), suggesting that Melian sources were exploited earlier than previously thought. The results of this preliminary study indicate there was no preference for a given source region at a particular time in the past. They also provide a baseline for future provenience studies of millstone trade patterns in Albania.
