The Kelsey Museum announces the next FAST lecture (Field Archaeology Series on Thursdays) on Thursday, April 11th, in the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology (Room 125). Refreshments will be served at 5:30 pm and the talk will begin at 6 pm. This talk will be given by Dr. David Stone and will be entitled "Passing the Salt: Investigating an Overlooked Commodity in the Roman Empire."
David Stone is a lecturer in the U-M Department of Classical Studies. His research interests include the intersectionality of urbanism, economy, and imperialism in the Roman world, particularly in North Africa. He is involved in several excavations and field surveys, including the urban survey of Leptiminus in Tunisia, and he serves as the director of field survey for both the Olynthos Project and the Pella Urban Dynamics Project.
Salt is an essential commodity in the diet of both humans and animals. It also flavors and preserves food, and it is employed in activities such as dyeing clothes, working with metals, and making perfumes and medicines. Its manufacture and uses have recently begun to attract attention in some regions of the ancient world, although it has long been overlooked in others. This paper considers the manufacture of salt in the province of Africa Proconsularis, and elsewhere in the Roman empire, and argues for the strong possibility that the product was destined for both local and long-distance markets. Come for the lecture (or the salty snacks).
FAST lectures are free and open to the public.
