An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c16.s19: 11.19 Amphorae
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c16.s19
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11.19 Amphorae
v1.c16.s19.1
Amphorae are flask-like jars mostly with rectilinear and high-shouldered double handles, high straight shoulders and tapering or conical bottoms, used for storing oil or wine in the Mediterranean world. Chemical examination of the internal incrustation of some jars found at ARIKAMEDU shows the presence of resin, an ingredient of Mediterranean wines. ARIKAMEDU has yielded many fragments of amphorae *in situ* or otherwise but all in a broken condition from deposits preceding and following the Arretine Ware [11.20]. The upper part of an amphora has been found at Sirkap in the n.-w. in Śaka-Parthian levels. Recently handled amphorae have been discovered at VASAVASAMUDRAM, s. of Mahabalipuram on the e. coast of Tamil Nadu.
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In the Tamil country and perhaps in other parts of s. India indigenous imitations of Mediterranean amphorae were manufactured for storing wine or oil. Of dull red colour they are long and conical in shape and are devoid of handles, their thickness ranging from 2 to 3 cm. Some jars with pointed bottom and a small circular opening at the top have been obtained in large numbers at KANCHIPURAM. While many of them are damaged some are *in situ* arranged in a row. Similar types occur also at NATTAMEDU.
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Wheeler, R.E.M , 1946, in *AI*, 2, pp. 41-5 (for Arikamedu). For other sites see respective entries in vol. II.—K.V. RAMAN