In the thirteenth edition of the Small Grants program by Center for Research on Ancient Civilizations of the University of Warsaw (CRAC), funding was awarded to ten projects. Among them was a topic submitted by Assoc. Prof. Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski: “Ceramic building materials marked with military stamps in Tyras – import or local production?“
The research project focuses on archaeometric analyses of construction ceramics and raw clays associated with Roman garrisons in the province of Lower Moesia. The aim is to determine the production sites of the ceramics, similar to earlier studies in Crimea that demonstrated that the military produced building materials on-site.
The ongoing project focuses on materials discovered in the citadel at Tyras (Ukraine). In the first stage of research, it was confirmed that some of the bricks were produced locally, while other samples exhibited different chemical compositions, indicating alternative places of production. The second stage, funded by the CRAC grant, will involve analyzing additional ceramic samples from Tyras as well as clays from Troesmis and Noviodunum, sites which are associated with the Roman garrison. These analyses aim to determine the origins of the building materials, thereby enhancing our understanding of Roman logistics in the region.
The results of both stages of research will also enable future analyses of materials from other locations. The project will conclude with the publication of at least one scientific article.
More information can be found on the CRAC website.