Amphorae to Barrels: Disappearance and Appearance

Abstract

Amphorae dominated Mediterranean trade for over two millennia, though their role appears to diminish sharply during the medieval period (c. 500–1500 AD). This research examines whether amphorae truly disappeared and identifies the social, religious, and technological factors that contributed to their decline. Drawing on archaeological evidence from the Uluburun and Yassi Ada shipwrecks, alongside historical and cultural analysis, the study shows that amphorae did not vanish abruptly but were gradually replaced. The spread of Christianity reduced their presence in funerary and ritual contexts, while evolving Eucharistic practices diminished their symbolic role. At the same time, wooden barrels—introduced from northern Europe—offered greater durability, portability, and standardized capacity, proving more efficient for large-scale commerce. Monastic viticulture and expanding Anglo-French trade networks reinforced this shift, incorporating barrels into medieval economic life. Rather than a disappearance, the decline of amphorae represents a broader transformation in material practice, reflecting changing religious traditions, technological adaptation, and the logistical demands of long-distance trade.