Africa Proconsularis

African Proconsulares was the initial name of territories comprising the huge North African Roman province created along the north coast in 146 BCE that spanned present day Tunisia, Northeast Algeria and the coast of Libya. It had ceramics centers producing a variety of fired clay utilitarian items also produced in Italy. Second only to Italia, it enforced Roman policy to thwart the possibility of another North African power. Divided into territories and ruled by Roman officials chosen by the Senate, it was part of the Empire under various names until the 7th century CE and was nicknamed “the granary of the empire, as it provided much of the Empire’s agriculture, textiles, wine, timber, livestock, marble and wool. Simple slipped utilitarian terracotta pottery and more decorative ceramics with etched and stamped designs and wares known as African Red Slip made in Roman pottery centers were shipped to Italia and elsewhere in the Empire and are in represented our collection.