Background: Amphora production at Antiocheia ad Cragum was revealed during surveys conducted by the Rough Cilicia Archaeological Survey Project in the 90s. Recent excavations by Asena Kızılarslanoğlu show that the local repertoire includes LRA1s, as well as Zemer 41 (‘Pinched Handle’) and Agora M239 amphoras (Rauh 2023: 15–20). Forthcoming publications by the excavator will undoubtedly shed more light on the workshop here.
Location: Above the former Great Bath complex from the Roman period.
Number of kilns At least seven kilns have been identified in Late Antique to Byzantine strata in the city, illustrating that a thriving ceramic industry complemented the city's wine production. Two kilns in the former Greath Bath complex were built to produce the 'pinched handle amphora' (Zemer 41/Agora M-239 type), and five more also existed in the complex. One of them must have been active in the Roman period; the other 4 must have been in use during the Late Roman-Early Byzantine periods.
Period of activity: ca. 4th-8th c.
Description of facilities: (see A. Kızılarslanoğlu in Hoff et al. 2018: 7)
see https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/rcas/17/
Typology: A Late LRA 1 survival (but with some different characteristics than the Aegean survivals), Agora M239 amphoras, and other coarse wares.
Local fabric Rauh and Slane identified at least two different fabrics of locally produced wares. One is deep red that displays like a lavish aspect on the exterior surface, and one an orange fabric, coarser. Both have however a very micaceous fabric and present traces of a white engobe, and are frequently referred to as 'Antioch fabrics' (Dodd 2020: 52).
