14 Authepsa: A Singular Brass Container from Augusta Emerita (Mérida, Spain). History and Interpretation of the Object Rafael Sabio González, Cristina Isabel Mena Méndez National Museum of Roman Art, Mérida Independent researcher rafael.sabio@cultura.gob.es Abstract: This paper presents a hitherto unknown and never exhibited bronze receptacle from the collection of the National Museum of Roman Art in Mérida (Badajoz, Spain). The object belongs to the museum’s historical collection and was located by the authors of this paper in the reserve collections. This oval receptacle has a hole in its upper section into which a tubular element is inserted. The object is thought to be a kitchen, or medical utensil for heating or cooling liquids held inside the receptacle by means of hot coals or ice placed in the tubular element. By inserting one part into the other, the temperature of the first is transferred to the content of the second without the heating or cooling material coming into contact with the foodstuff. Keywords: Authepsa; Augusta Emerita; Roman bronze vessel 1. Introduction Element A is a receptacle 21 cm high with a maximum diameter of 20.5 cm. It has a flat bottom with a 11.5 cm diameter, an ovoid body and an opening with a flat rim around the tightly fitting insert B (it is currently separate but would originally have been joined to the rim). The body has various holes, particularly on the lower third of its surface, and is crossed by various precisely incised horizontal lines, some of which run in pairs. Halfway up The permanent collection of the National Museum of Roman Art in Mérida (Badajoz, Spain) houses an important collection of bronze finds, most of which date to the Early Imperial period and were found at the Mérida site. Among the finds is an interesting receptacle (inv. no 13591) which has never been exhibited. The shape of the object suggests an as-yet undocumented kitchen utensil from the colony, , of which there is only one recorded from across the entire Iberian Peninsula (Tomasevic Buck 2002). It has been difficult to properly identify the object, not only because of its unusual typology but because of the complex story behind its entry into the collection. We address both aspects in detail in this paper1. 2. Description The object in question consists of two separate elements which we will call A and B. The second (B) can be inserted in the hole in the first (A) (Fig. 14.1). This work is part of the project titled InterArq- Arqueología e interdisciplinariedad: una investigación arqueológico-histórica sobre las relaciones interdisciplinares en la historia de la arqueología española (siglos XIX y XX) (InterArq Archaeology and Interdisciplinary Working: An Archaeological and Historical Investigation into Interdisciplinary Relationships in the History of Spanish Archaeology (19th and 20th Centuries), HAR2016-334033/Hist, funded by the State Research Agency (Spanish acronym AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF, EU). 1 Figure 14.1. General view of the authepsa inv. no. 13591 (MNAR Photographic Archive/Lorenzo Plana). 125 Rafael Sabio González, Cristina Isabel Mena Méndez is a small circular hole with a diameter of 0.5 cm, framed by a circular corrosion mark with a diameter of 4 cm (Fig. 14.2). On the opposite side, near the mouth of the receptacle, is another round hole with a diameter of 1.5 cm (Fig. 14.3). It appears also to have been framed by a circular mark with a diameter of 4 cm. Slightly below this height are three equidistant hexagonal marks on the body of the object. They are around 3 cm wide and much fainter than the other marks already described. In fact, they are barely perceptible. Those correspond to hexagonal elements which were originally attached there. The part which is separated from the mouth comprises a ring with an inverted L cross-section. Its vertical section is 1 cm wide and is decorated externally with a series of relief ovals, below a 1-cm-wide everted rim. area demonstrates how the two parts were connected to make a single vessel. 3. History of the object The find entered the collection on March 7th 1972, according to Volume III of the museum’s records. The entry contains a short description of the object: “Pot with an internal cylindrical vessel. Bronze. Would have had a handle.” The record states the following origin: “Casa Herrera”. The field for method of acquisition is blank. In the ‘remarks’ field the find was given an identification number prior to becoming part of the museum collection: “No. 69” (Fig. 14.4). All these data present a fundamental problem in that they are relatively imprecise and likely inaccurate in terms of the acquisition and the location of the finding, a site around seven kilometres north of Mérida’s town centre. A late-antiquity basilica with opposing apses was found there in the 1940s. The basilica was first excavated in 1943 by José de Calasanz Serra Rafols, who handed over some of the finds to the museum in that same year (Serra Rafols 1943). His work was continued between 1968 and 1972 by the archaeologists Luis Caballero Zoreda and Thilo Ulbert (Ulbert – Caballero 1976) and by Ulbert in 1987 (Ulbert – Cruz Villalón 1990). Element B is a hollow tube 20 cm tall, which is slightly tapered and wider towards its base. This last part was possibly straight with a 9.3 cm diameter but does not survive. Its upper extreme has an internal diameter of 7 cm and continues as a horizontal rim 2.5 cm wide, with an off-center perforation of 1.2 cm in diameter, fitting perfectly over the separate everted rim of element A. This All of the materials found at the site have been dated to between the 4th and 8th centuries AD. Neither the shape nor the chronology of the object which we are interested in fit with the characteristics of any of the objects found in that context. Analysing the museum records reveals that the vessel marks the end of a series which started with various objects originating from the excavations at Casa Herrera. These include a piece of marble cymatium moulding (inv. no. 13586), a clay lamp (inv. no. 13587), and three ceramic jugs (inv. no. 13588–13590), all found during the excavation by Serra Rafols at Casa Herrera in 1943. However, unlike other finds handed over to the museum that same year, these did not become part of the collection until 1972. Their shape and the detailed information on these finds provided by Ulbert and Caballero in their work Figure 14.2. Detail of the middle hole and the mark of the application around it (MNAR Photographic Archive/ Lorenzo Plana). Figure 14.3. Detail of the upper hole and the mark of the application around it (MNAR Photographic Archive/ Lorenzo Plana). Figure 14.4. Detail of the own numbering inscribed on the authepsa (MNAR Photographic Archive/Lorenzo Plana) 126 Authepsa: A Singular Brass Container from Augusta Emerita (Mérida, Spain) on the basilica leave no doubt that they must have come from Casa Herrera. The ceramic items have their own numbers in the museum records (30. 35. 37 and 31) which relate to other finds also found in the 1943 excavation, but which were handed over to the museum during the 1968 campaign. This collection of objects remained in the possession of the archaeologist Serra Rafols until it was given to the museum in Mérida by the new custodians, following subsequent excavations. Given this information, it would be no surprise if there existed a second document (the whereabouts of which are unknown) containing a parallel list to the one dated March 16th 1943. The objects on this list would have been intended for future accession by the museum, so long as they remained in the possession of the archaeologist (perhaps for research purposes). However, Serra Rafols never published anything on the subject. The objects in this second hypothetical group must have been handed over by the archaeologist to Ulbert and Caballero, who deposited them in the Mérida museum between 1968 and 1972. This may have been where the confusion arose – perhaps a vessel of different origin slipped in among those found in Casa Herrera. What is certain from examination of the objects handed over to the museum by Serra Rafols in 1943 is that among those from los Columbarios is a small bronze object identified as number 130 in the list. It is described as a “Small polygonal bronze cup” and was more generically identified by the museum as a “finial”. It is currently identified as inv. no. 4333 (Fig. 14.6). The cup is a perfect fit with one of the hexagonal marks near the mouth of our object, thus confirming the discovery of our vessel in the Los Columbarios area in 1943 (Fig. 14.7). It is possible that the physical similarities between our object and those just mentioned led to its being associated with these when it was handed over to the museum, along with the number 69 written on the base in identical lettering to that found on the finds from Casa Herrera (Figs. 14.4 and 14.5). However, aside from the problem arising from the shape of our vessel, that number does not appear to be connected to the list of other finds originating from Casa Herrera. The number on our find is 26 numbers apart from the last number corresponding to the finds which are linked to that site with certainty. Given all of the above, we can deduce that our vessel was found by Serra Rafols in 1943 along with the others and, like those, remained in his possession for research purposes, unlike the vast collection of finds which were in fact handed over to the museum in Mérida that year. From what we have been able to confirm regarding the 1943 accession, the number on this object may refer to a general record of materials from various interventions carried out in the city by that archaeologist. Only a very specific range in this document (nos 174–192) would correspond to Casa Herrera. Given what we know about the list of materials admitted in March 16th 1943, Serra Rafols handed over items originating not only from the aforementioned basilica but which were exhumed from other locations in the urban area surrounding the Mérida site, such as los Columbarios (nos 1–165), San Lázaro (nos 166–173), Miralrío (nos 193–194), Pancaliente (nos 195–221) and El Berrocal (no. 222). According to the list, the last two were excavated prior to the Civil War and not by Serra Rafols, and the finds were incorporated into the list before being handed over to the museum. 4. Functional interpretation The object in question is identified as a mere “pot” in the records of the National Museum of Roman Art. This assertion is based largely on its shape and includes the extraordinary addition of an “internal cylindrical vessel”. The inventory record does little to argue with this information. A small correction substitutes the Spanish word “puchero” (pot) for “olla” (pan), and provides summary information on its dimensions and its “beaded edging”. Given its shape, however, it is not difficult to imagine a more unusual and specific purpose. Beyond simply containing a particular substance, the double cavity of the object must have been used to separate one substance from another with which it could have a beneficial interaction. After analysing the existing literature on Roman bronze vessels, we have identified a singular receptacle designed Figure 14.5. Detail of the own numbering inscribed on the jug inv. no. 13588 (MNAR Photographic Archive/Lorenzo Plana). Figure 14.6. Handle inv. no. 4333 (MNAR Photographic Archive/Lorenzo Plana). 127 Rafael Sabio González, Cristina Isabel Mena Méndez Figure 14.8. Profile, section and zenithal view of the authepsa with restitution of the handles (drawing by Cristina Mena). Figure 14.7. Location of the handle inv. no. 4333 on the authepsa (MNAR Photographic Archive/Lorenzo Plana) specifically for heating a given substance and keeping it warm. Named authepsa in Greek, the body of the object contained two cavities: one for liquid, and the other for the coals which would provide the required heat. The main body of the object would not come into contact either with the fire or with the hot substance. Of the variety and diversity of authepsae catalogued by Tomasevic Buck in 2002, ours corresponds specifically to category A1, which contains 16 examples to date. The distinguishing features of this type are their ovoid shape and the presence of a tube for holding hot coals and which opens at its upper end. precise decoration on the body and the beading around the mouth can also be found in other vessels from Tomasevic Buck’s A1 category. The hole on the rim of element B would align with the upper hole on element A, and it displays signs of another element having been attached. However, we do not know if it would have been used for attaching a lid, for facilitating the flow of liquid in element A, or for both purposes (Fig. 14.8). The various vessels analysed by Tomasevic Buck have been dated between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD. However, in the absence of more specific information, and with caution, we date our vessel to the Early Imperial period. The information provided by Tomasevic Buck enables us to interpret the two openings in the body of our object and the circles around them as the remains of a detached element which would have been used (at least the one in the centre of the body) for pouring the liquid contained in element A, with some form of valve to regulate the flow. Similarly, the three equidistant marks near the mouth would have been for inserting other elements to facilitate hanging the object on chains. As already seen, inv. no. 4333 is one of these additional elements. It has a simple hexagonal shape with an indentation near its finial, perhaps for attaching the chain used to support the object. We know nothing of the additional elements which would have been attached to the two existing holes in element A, except that they must have had a circular component. The Bibliography AA.VV., 1986. Le collezioni del Museo Nazionale di Napoli. Roma: De Luca. Biroli Stefanelli, L. P., 1990. Il bronzo dei romani. Arredo e suppellettile. Roma, 1990. Carandini, A., 1977. Alcune forme bronzee conservate a Pompei e nel Museo Nazionale di Napoli. L’instrumentum domesticum di Ercolano e Pompei nella prima età imperiale. Roma: L’Erma de Bretschneider, 163168. 128 Authepsa: A Singular Brass Container from Augusta Emerita (Mérida, Spain) Mutz, A., 1959. 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