Abstract:

It is generally thought that by the 1st century BC stone vessels had lost their “relevance” in the material culture hierarchy across the Mediterranean. Nevertheless, stone vessels did not completely lose their importance and the production of utilitarian, ritual or luxury vases in stone continued into the 1st century AD, albeit on a relatively smaller scale. Vases carved in coloured stones were still highly fashionable status markers in the Roman period as the appearance of coloured marble vase-shaped cinerary urns in Roman tombs also suggests. Yet, relatively little is known of the circumstances surrounding carving techniques and artisans identity. This paper discusses aspects of Roman stone vessel production in the light of the evidence emerging from my doctoral research.