Local Black-Gloss pottery from Sardinia: continuity and innovation between Hellenism and early Empire

Abstract

The studies on Black-Gloss ware developed in Sardinia in recent years show, in an ever more precise way, that local products often represent the most attested classes. Basically, starting from the 3^rd century BC, continuing towards the late Republican age to get to the Imperial age, the presence of artifacts that intend to replicate or sometimes only resemble Black-Gloss occurs in different areas of Sardinia, suggesting the possibility of interpreting this phenomenon as an evident and repeated attempt to establish a relationship of cultural proximity with a 'dominant' fashion. In this respect, it is interesting to observe how the study of Black-Gloss ceramics can contribute to highlighting phenomena of cultural mediation and social and economic interaction. Starting from these premises, this work intends to present some case studies that mainly refer to southern Sardinia, trying to clarify some aspects around the times and problems connected with local ceramic production and consequently with the selection mechanisms for local ones, which determine the use and value of the containers.