The initiation of any ancient industry depended largely on the availability of resources necessary for production. In the case of the production of pottery or other ceramic products, not only the availability of clay and temper are...
moreThe initiation of any ancient industry depended largely on the availability of resources necessary for production. In the case of the production of pottery or other ceramic products, not only the availability of clay and temper are important. Also the possibility to exploit large woodlands for the procurement of fuel and the accessibility of water as a key element in both clay preparation and clay shaping were crucial factors in establishing a production site. Another element to be taken into account is that of distribution opportunities of the given territory, spanning from road systems, sea ports and docking features, to river systems and river docking facilities as well. These distribution opportunities are a crucial factor in defining the possible scale of export for a giving production defining them as local, regional or supra-regional, providing a better understanding of the production centre as well. In some cases these aspects of connectivity seem to compensate the lack of suitable raw materials for a giving region. It is therefore not surprising that glass workshops often set up nearby important distribution hubs and transport network features. The link between the production of ceramics and the territory they served or were located within, has been tackled in many areas of the Roman world. In the eastern Adriatic and its hinterland, where pottery and ceramics production centres have only recently been identified, these aspects are still to be explored. In the case of glass production, whose production indicators are still fairly recent for this area, distribution patterns seems to play a key role in understanding supply networks and consumption behaviour.
