Amphora, Dressel 20 amphora

A cream fabric globular amphora for transporting olive oil (Dressel 20 type). Complete except for base. The vessel is poorly manufactured with protuberances and spalling on the body. There is a stamp, QMR, on one of the two handles and graffito, LNF, on the neck. Found as a secondary vessel holding a primary vessel which contained a cremation of a mature male (CB753.2D<72>). Amphorae came from different parts of the empire, containing a variety of foodstuffs. This meant that they varied in shape and size. Some round amphorae were for olive oil and came from southern Spain. Other amphorae were long and thin and held fish sauce or wine. These came from Italy, France or Greece. Much smaller containers for such things as dried fruit came from north Africa or Palestine.