Amphora production in Punic and Late Punic Malaka (Málaga, Spain). New evi- dence from the Carranque – Juan XXIII area

Abstract

This article focuses on the examination of the architectural remains and pottery discovered by salvage excavations in the eastern area of present day Málaga. The site (Juan XXIII St.) revealed a Punic phase (sixth to third century BCE) with no remains of structures; also, it uncovered some buildings and evidence of pottery production dating from the second century BCE to the Roman Imperial period. The production of amphorae, found in massive quantities, was the main activity throughout the consecutive stages. This paper provides an overview of the successive and overlapping phases, characterised by simple buildings and deposits (pits filled with potters’ debris), in addition to a preliminary examination of the production of amphorae and red slip tablewares during the second to first century BCE. This new data allows for some initial hypotheses about the local land planning and its evolution during pre-Augustan times, in addition to the role that the Juan XXIII workshop played in the maritime oriented economy of Malaka and the Strait of Gibraltar region.