- La Graufesenque
La Graufesenque is an archaeological site 2km from
Millau ,Aveyron ,France at the junction of the Tarn and Dourbie rivers. AsCondatomagus (market of the confluent) it was famous in theGallo-Roman period for the production of high quality dark redterra sigillata pottery, which was made in vast quantities and exported over much of the western part of theRoman Empire .History
Production of pottery started at La Graufesenque under the reign of
Augustus . Production reached a peak in the third quarter of the first century, and declined as a major exporter thereafter. Reduced activity servicing local needs continued until the third century.The pottery was made from local clay with a red
slip and fired in wood burningkiln s which could hold up to 40 thousand items. More than six hundred pottery workshops are known to have been in operation, although a few dozen were prominent.References
Bibliography
*Bémont, C. and Jacob, J.-P. (1986) "La Terre sigillée gallo-romaine. Lieux de production du Haut Empire: implantations, produits, relations". Documents d'archéologie française, 6, Maison des Sciences de l'Homme, Paris.
*Bémont, C., Vernhet, A. and Beck, F., (1987) "La Graufesenque. Village de potiers gallo-romains". Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication.
*Hermet, F. (1934) "La Graufesenque (Condatomago)". Librairie Ernest Leroux, Paris.
*Marichal, R., (1988) "Les graffites de la Graufesenque". Supplément à Gallia, 47, Éditions du CNRS, Paris.External links
* [http://www.potsherd.uklinux.net/atlas/Ware/SGTS Distribution of La Graufesenque terra sigillata in Roman Britain]
* [http://www.aurelle-verlac.com/millau/graufesq.htm The archaeological site of La Graufesenque] (in French, with photo)
* [http://www.aveyron.com/histoire/gaufresq.html Local information about La Graufesenque] (in French, with photos)
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