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Excavation

  • Sinagoga
  • Ostia antica
  •  
  • Italy
  • Lazio
  • Rome
  • Rome

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Credits

  • The Italian Database is the result of a collaboration between:

    MIBAC (Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali - Direzione Generale per i Beni Archeologici),

    ICCD (Istituto Centrale per il Catalogo e la Documentazione) and

    AIAC (Associazione Internazionale di Archeologia Classica).

  • AIAC_logo logo

Summary (English)

  • All archival material from the 1961-63 excavations was analyzed and catalogued. The majority of the ceramics have now been dated between the fourth and the end of the sixth century C.E (anfore Dressel 23, Late Roman 3, Keay LII and others). It is clear that early excavations damaged or destroyed the contexts of this later phase or phases. Stratigraphy from T2 (in 2005) and T12 (located directly north of it in 2007) confirm the sustained use and occupation of the building and area into Late Antiquity.

    Archival numismatic material (approximately 50 coins) was also studied. Several coins with relative contexts have now been identified. One was discovered “in trench ‘P’ between the column on the right and the northeast wall, at the foot of the door which leads onto the _via Severiana_” (26 June 1962). This description indicates a find spot in IV.17.1.11. The coin (cassetta D2-40, no. 348) was found on the upper level of a cocciopesto surface. The remains of this surface are visible in archival photographs beneath the latericium bedding course of the north wall of IV.17.1.11. The coin has now been identified as a sestertius of Marcus Aurelius or Commodus (thus, 160-192 C.E.). The relationship between it and the relative architectural phases observed in T10-11 (see entry for 2007) now demands further study.

    A second coin (cassetta D2-34, no. 282) was discovered “under the late mosaic pavement in the room behind the Torah Shrine” (4 July 1962). This description indicates a find point in IV.17.1.9 or 1.13. The coin has been identified as a bronze AE4, datable to the end of the fourth or beginning of the fifth century C.E. It provides the first indication of a terminus post quem for the construction of the mosaic floor in rooms 9 and 13 and perhaps for the apsidal Torah Shrine, as well.

    Faunal remains from 1961-1963 and 2005-2007 were also analyzed. The number of bone remains for each animal group were noted, as well stratigraphic context, where available. Fragments that could not be recognized were counted, but the undetermined remains with dimensions < 1 cm were excluded from analysis. A complete study is forthcoming. Preliminary results are as follows:

    2,529 bone remains were analyzed, of which 459 (18%) were identified. 2,278 come from 2005-2007; 251 come from 1961-1963. The species which predominate are: Homo sapiens, Ovis aries, Sus scrofa, Bos taurus, Equus caballus, Equus asinus, and Canis familiaris. Sus scrofa (swine) represents 7.9% (8 remains) of the total assemblage from 1961-1963 material. These depositions are still under study.

    By contrast, Sus scrofa represents 39% (140 remains) of the total remains excavated in 2005-2007. The most abundant elements from this group are the teeth, almost always well preserved; and a postcranial skeleton, fragmented or broken showing traces of human butchering. These remains may be a sign of cooking activity associated with the building, or they may be part of a later trash deposit associated with the raising of the ground level on site.

  • Douglas Boin 
  • Susan Gelb - University of Texas at Austin 
  • Brent Nongbri 
  • L. Michael White - University of Texas and Institute for the Study of Antiquity and Christian Origins 

Director

Team

  • Nicoletta Conti
  • Daniela Williams - Università degli Studi Roma Tre
  • Adele Rinaldi
  • Letizia Ceccarelli - University of Cambridge
  • Marzia Di Mento - L.A.T.E.R.E.S. ARC. TER

Research Body

  • The University of Texas at Austin (Ostia Synagogue Masonry Analysis Project, OSMAP)

Funding Body

  • The Institute for the Study of Antiquity and Christian Origins at the University of Texas at Austin

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