Palazzo de'Rossi. Una storia pistoiese

Mortaria (tav. 11)
Accanto a tipi molto diffusi come i mortai con beccuccio di scolo 122 sono presenti tipi per i
quali non si è riusciti a trovare confronti puntuali. È il caso di un mortaio lenticolare con orlo
rientrante inclinato verso l’alto e decorato da cerchielli impressi disposti in modo irregolare
123 . L’esemplare presenta tracce di un rivestimento in vernice rossa scura poco aderente e
mal conservata (tav. 11).
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Tav. 10. Ceramica da cucina
Contenitori commerciali (tav. 12)
I frammenti di contenitori commerciali sono abbondanti nelle stratigrafie di Palazzo de’
Rossi. Alcuni di essi denunciano impieghi secondari o una prolungata esposizione ad agenti
di degrado come il frammento di anfora tipo Camulodunum 184 (tav. 12, n. 3) con un lato significativamente
consunto. Molti dei frammenti provengono, infatti, dalle massicciate stradali
dove furono reimpiegati unitamente a pietrame e a terra per allestire la via glareata individuata
durante le operazioni di scavo.
Le anfore di produzione italica sono rappresentate da frammenti di Dressel 1 (II-I sec. a.
C.) 124 e da frammenti di Dressel 2-4 analoghi a quelli rinvenuti negli strati di età tiberiana
dell’Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi 125 .
Alle produzioni ispaniche sono da assegnare frammenti di anfore vinarie di tipo Haltern 70, presenti
anche negli strati della fase IV dell’Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi 126 , e frammenti di anfore per
le conserve di pesce, rappresentate dalla famiglia delle Dressel 7-11, prodotte tra I e II sec. d.C.,
(tav. 12, n. 1, nn. 2a-2b; fig. 9) abbondanti anche nelle stratigrafie dell’Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi 127 .
Alcuni frammenti di anse a gomito tipo Camulodunum 184, Ostia LXV, diffuso dalla fine del
I sec. d.C. ai primissimi anni del II sec (tav. 12, n. 3) sembrano da ricondurre alle produzioni
di anfore egee o alle loro imitazioni italiche 128 . Il tipo è attestato a Pistoia anche tra i ritrovamenti
di Ripa del Sale 129 e dell’Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi dove compare nella fase della
media età augustea 130 .
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the area taking in Pistoia and Florence 120 , which find precise comparisons for example in 11 th
century contexts at the Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi 121 where the fluted ollas with hawksbeak as
well as triangular rim were found together with utensils and beakers with trilobite rim.
Mortaria (table 11)
Next to very widespread types like the mortaria with spout 122 , types are present for which
precise comparisons have not been found. A case in point is a lenticular mortarium with upward
incurving rim, decorated with stamped rings arranged in an irregular manner 123 . The
example presents traces of a coating in dark red paint, non adherent and poorly conserved
(table 11).
Containers for transport and storage (table 12)
The fragments of commercial vessels are abundant in the stratifications of Palazzo de’ Rossi.
Some of them had secondary uses or have been subjected to lengthy exposure to agents of
deterioration, like the fragment of a Camulodunum 184 type amphora (table 12, no. 3) with
a significantly worn side. Many of the fragments in fact come from the road ballasts where
they were reused together with stones and earth to prepare the via glareata identified during
the excavations.
The Italic amphorae are represented by fragments of Dressel 1 (II-I sec. B. C.) 124 and by
fragments of Dressel 2-4 similar to those found in the Tiberian age stratifications at Antico
Palazzo dei Vescovi 125 .
Attributable to southern Spanish wares are fragments of Haltern 70 type wine amphorae,
present also in the phase 4 stratifications of Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi 126 , and fragments of
amphorae for storing fish, represented by the Dressel 7-11 group, produced between the 1st
and the 2nd century A.D. (table 12, no. 1, nos. 2a-2b) abundant also in the stratifications of
the Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi 127 .
Some fragments of Camulodunum 184 type Ostia LXV with peaked handles, widespread from
the end of the 1st century A.D. and the early years of the 2nd century (table 12, no. 3) would
seem to refer to Aegean amphorae or to their Italic imitations 128 . The type is seen in Pistoia
also among the finds of Ripa del Sale 129 and Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi where it appears in
the phase of the mid Augustan age 130 .
The African amphorae are documented by the Tripolitana II type 131 used from the Trajan age
to the 3rd century A.D. (table 25, no. 4) 132 , and by the Spatheia, the small sized amphorae used
to transport olives, fish sauces and perhaps also wine, as observed for the Spatheion 1 A 133
present from the end of the 4th century to the beginning of the 5th century A.D., to which
the fragment of rim from Palazzo de’ Rossi (table 12, no. 5) 134 is comparable.
C.T.
Anthropological study of the graves
The excavation, as we have seen, brought to light three graves from the early Middle Ages, in
simple earthy pits, whose study has enabled us to increase our knowledge of the “people of
Pistoia back then” 135 . Probably the excavation crossed one of the boundaries of the burial area
that belonged to the church of S. Jacopo in Castellare. The absence of further archaeological
confirmation does not allow, to date, for definite judgement; but the possibility undoubtedly
has great allure, insofar as it could bear witness to a religious destination of the area previous
to what we know to date 136 .
In its effort to understand and shine light on past events, archaeology has always relied on many
other disciplines, and by flanking and merging with those is thus enriched, allowing for a better
comprehension of the past. Standing out among these is archeoanthropology, which allows
for a specialist and technical study of the human remains that are frequently brought to light
in excavations. This is precisely what we will deal with in the pages ahead: the reconstruction,
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