Pannonian Production of Thin-Walled Pottery from Mursa: Campus 2001–2015

Abstract

In the period from 2001 to 2015, in the area of the present day University Campus in Osijek (Croatia), rescue archaeological
excavations of Roman Mursa were conducted. Thin–walled pottery found in these excavations is represented by a
small number of finds in comparison to other classes of pottery, however, they present characteristics by which is possible
to determine affiliation to certain major production centers. Under their influences, potters in Pannonia also developed
their own local production which follows the usual template in forms and decoration. In the period from the second half of
1st to the first half of 2nd century AD the most common vessels are the ones that imitate forms of Italian production. By the
later period, during the 2nd and 3rd century AD, new forms of thin-walled cups and beakers had taken over the local market.
During this time they were also produced in Mursa, which is confirmed by the numerous findings from pottery kilns. These
new forms became the common types of drinking vessels and completely took over the local market, slowly pushing earlier
Italic forms out of use.