Stamped Amphora Handles
A total of 116 stamped amphora handles were found, of which 20 are of local or regional origin, the remainder imported (89 Rhodian, 3 most probably Cypriot, 2 Cnidian, 1 Thasian). Three more, found in the Insula, were illegible.
The fabricant has been identified in 36 stamps with Greek script, the eponym in another 36. The name of the month was found on 38 stamps, and devices on 42. Three are inscribed in Semitic lettering and two have Greek letters written retrograde; where whole names can be read they are Semitic theophorics.
Based on the 66 Rhodian stamps for which the dating is roughly certain, 7.5% are dated down to c. 235 BCE and 18% to the period 234-199; that is, about a quarter to the third century. Some 55% belong to the period c. 198-161 and 12% to c. 160-146, so around two-thirds of the imports occurred roughly within the first half of the second century. The remaining 7.5% of datable imports belong to the second half of this century. Where found in undisturbed contexts, those of local origin are generally in the upper levels, dating therefore to relatively late in the depositional history of the site.
While the stamped handles may not be representative of the total (unstamped handles were also found, as well as toes and rims), these figures may suggest a peak in imports in the first half of the second century and that thereafter imports tended to give way to local production (of oil and wine).
Distribution of stamped amphora handles
| Area | Total | Imported | Local |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Insula | 26 | 26 | |
| Area S: Commercial | 26 | 25 | 1 |
| Acropolis South | 16 | 15 | 1 |
| Area B: Temple | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| Acropolis Palace | 12 | 4 | 8 |
| Area C: Palaestra | 3 | 3 | |
| Area X | 3 | 3 | |
| Main Gate | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Acropolis area | 2 | 2 | |
| Area AB | 2 | 2 | |
| Surface | 10 | 9 | 1 |
| Total | 116 | 96 | 20 |
The stamped handles were published by Graeme Clarke in four tranches — see Publications.
Catalogue
| Catalogue no. / Inventory no. | |
|---|---|
| 05.1038 |  |
| SH.1 90.506 |  |
| SH.2 96.564 |  |
| SH.2 96.564 |  |
| SH.3 96.493 |  |
| SH.4 87.222 |  |
| SH.4 87.222 |  |
| SH.5 87.112 | |
| SH.6 88.272 |  |
| SH.6 88.272 |  |
| SH.7 95.464 |  |
| SH.8 95.425 |  |
| SH.8 95.425 |  |
| SH.8 profile 95.425 |  |
| SH.9 89.646 |  |
| SH.11 87.922 |  |
| SH.12 89.739 | |
| SH.12 89.739 |  |
| SH.13 90.112 |  |
| SH.14 93.515 |  |
| SH.15 91.068 |  |
| SH.15 profile 91.068 |  |
| SH.15 91.068 |  |
| SH.16 89.649 |  |
| SH.17 87.008 |  |
| SH.18 89.312 |  |
| SH.19 96.589 |  |
| SH.20 89.049 |  |
| SH.21 89.914 |  |
| SH.22 90.537 |  |
| SH.23 93.348 |  |
| SH.24 95.027 |  |
| SH.25 93.672 |  |
| SH.27 95.240 |  |
| SH.28 95.475 |  |
| SH.29 90.660 |  |
| SH.30 88.273 |  |
| SH.31 88.177 |  |
| SH.32 90.548 |  |
| SH.33 90.374 |  |
| SH.34 90.145 |  |
| SH.35 89.683 |  |
| SH.36 87.253 |  |
| SH.36n Milwaukee |  |
| SH.37 90.379 |  |
| SH.38 89.014 |  |
| SH.39 89.774 |  |
| SH.40 87.029 |  |
| SH.41 89.899 |  |
| SH.42 87.169 |  |
| SH.43 93.521 |  |
| SH.44 96.171 |  |
| SH.45 91.290 |  |
| SH.46 90.274 |  |
| SH.47 90.198 |  |
| SH.48 95.167 |  |
| SH.49 89.1000 |  |
| SH.49 89.1000 |  |
| SH.50 |  |
| SH.51 01.402 |  |
| SH.52 00.345 |  |
| SH.52 00.345 |  |
| SH.53 01.226 |  |
| SH.53 profile 01.226 |  |
| SH.54 05.554 |  |
| SH.54 detail 05.554 |  |
| SH.55 00.026 |  |
| SH.56 00.956 |  |
| SH.57 05.187 |  |
| SH.58 02.109 |  |
| SH.58 02.109 |  |
| SH.59 00.002 |  |
| SH.60 05.126 |  |
| SH.61 01.487 |  |
| SH.61 01.487 |  |
| SH.62 05.517 |  |
| SH.63 02.499 |  |
| SH.64 93.771 |  |
| SH.65abc 05.980 |  |
| SH.65 05.980 |  |
| SH.66 02.248 |  |
| SH.67 05.572 |  |
| SH.68 93.781 |  |
| SH.68 profile 93.781 |  |
| SH.69 93.761 |  |
| SH.70 00.003 |  |
| SH.70 profile 00.003 |  |
| SH.71 02.357 |  |
| SH.72 06.872 |  |
| SH.73 06.638 |  |
| SH.74 06.325 |  |
| SH.75 06.879 |  |
| SH.76 08.531 |  |
| SH.77 06.288 |  |
| SH.78 06.637 |  |
| SH.79 08.308 |  |
| SH.80 06.009 |  |
| SH.81 08.019 |  |
| SH.82 06.914 |  |
| SH.83 08.804 |  |
| SH.84 06.092 |  |
| SH.85 08.585 |  |
| SH.86 08.764 |  |
| SH.87 06.631 |  |
| SH.88 08.708 |  |
| SH.89 08.642 |  |
| SH.90 06.051 |  |
| SH.91 08.821 |  |
| SH.91 08.821 |  |
| SH.92 08.773 |  |
| SH.93 06.010 |  |
| SH.94-95 08.378 |  |
| SH.94 08.378 |  |
| SH.95 08.437 |  |
| SH.96 08.597 |  |
| SH.97 10.287 |  |
| SH.97 detail 10.287 |  |
| SH.98 10.1005 |  |
| SH.98 detail 10.1005 |  |
| SH.99 10.510 |  |
| SH.100 10.790 |  |
| SH.101 10.948 |  |
| SH.102 10.791 |  |
| SH.103 10.1034 |  |
| SH.104 10.640 |  |
| SH.105 10.799 |  |
| SH.106 10.693 |  |
| SH.107 10.977 |  |
| SH.108 10.1075 |  |
| SH.109 10.527 |  |
| SH.110 10.069 |  |
| SH.111 10.743 |  |
| SH.112 08.846 |  |
| SH.113 08.805 |  |
| SH.114 08.886 |  |
| SH.114 detail 08.886 |  |
| SH.115 10.533 |  |
| SH.116 10.1111 |  |
The Australian Mission to Jebel Khalid is a joint project of the Australian National University and the University of Melbourne.