Residue analysis of some late roman amphora coming from the excavations of the historical center of Florence

Between 2001 and 2004, excavations were carried out in Via de’ Castellani, in the center of Florence under the direction of the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archoelogici della Toscana. The Universities of Siena and Florence carried out the study of the materials recovered during the excavation. The excavation concerned an area between the south roman wall and the Arno river, where the earlier occupation is dated to the late Antiquity (4th century). Between the 5th and the 7th century a natural depression of the ground was filled up with the city’s rubbish and alluvial layers. Only few post-holes and a dyke testify the use of the area in this period. Among the materials recovered during the excavations, some amphorae were found, that allowed to think about the diffusion of goods in the city during Late Antiquity and High Middle Ages. Some of these amphorae were chosen to be analyzed in order to know their content, and therefore, the goods that they transported. They were mainly Late Roman 1, two Late Roman 5/6, one “Empoli amphora” and a probable variant of Late Roman 3. The results of the analyses, carried out at the University of Siena, show that the “Empoli amphora” and some Late Roman 1 possibly contained wine, while the two Late Roman 5/6 do not show any trace of content. In the probable variant of Late Roman 3 only solid pitch residues are present. In general, it seems that many amphorae were re-used, especially those that were found in secondary contexts