Introduction

The material remains of previous civilizations reveal much about their culture and lifestyle.  By studying the various artifacts, dwellings, and city-structure, one can postulate how that society functioned both socially and economically.  Pottery was an integral part of Roman society in both domestic and commercial realms, and therefore a beneficial area of investigation.  Most ancient ceramics can be divided into 3 general categories in terms of feature and function:  Amphorae -primarily used for import and export; coarseware -utilitarian and undecorated; and fineware -functional as well as decorative.  Roman finewares usually had a red slipped surface and sometimes had additional figural decoration. Depending on the locale of production, these finewares may be referred to as Arretine, terra sigillata, or African Red Slip.  Terra Sigillata is a broad term that applies to pottery from any locale having a shinny red slip.  Wares made in Arezzo, Italy, a major production centre during the reign of Augustus to circa first century AD, are referred to as Arretine.  And the African Red Slip or ARS wares were made in Africa and date from the second to eighth centuries AD.