New data on the fabrication of turdetanian amphorae. A review of the production phases and manufactures of cerro macareno (La Rinconada, Sevilla)

Abstract

Cerro Macareno (La Rinconada, Sevilla) is an iconic archaeological site for the Protohistory of the Iberian Peninsula, and more concretely for the study of amphorae. Traditionally, this workshop had been considered by historiography as a production centre of Turdetanian amphorae, at least of those belonging to the Pellicer BC type. However, there has never been a thorough analysis of the overfired ceramic sherds associated to the kilns of the site. After the revision of the ceramic materials from Cerro Macareno stored in the Archaeological Museum of Sevilla, some of the overfired fragments have been typologically identified and have proved the productive role of this workshop in different chronological periods. Moreover, it has been proved that the incisions drawn over this type of amphorae may have a local origin, while evidence has been provided for a new productive phase after the activity of the kilns recorded during the excavations of 1974-1976. Finally, new archaeometric analyses have characterized the frequent local fabrics of the pottery of Cerro Macareno, adding new information for the understanding of the commercial role of the settlement.