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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Pottery as evidence for trade in medieval Cyrenaica
Author:Kennet, D.ISNI
Year:1994
Periodical:Libyan Studies
Volume:25
Pages:275-285
Language:English
Geographic term:Libya
Subjects:mercantile history
archaeology
Middle Ages
Abstract:This paper examines evidence for Cyrenaica's (Libya) medieval trade contacts, particularly its ceramic assemblages. The two largest assemblages, namely Surt and AjdŻabiyŻa, contain glazed pottery belonging to a class described as 'underglazed-painted ware', which is of Sicilian origin. There are no clear suggestions in the historical material surveyed of any particular relationship between Sicily and Cyrenaica. Indeed, it is noticeable that in all the geographers' accounts the most commonly mentioned destination for exported Cyrenaican products is Egypt. The presence of Sicilian underglazed-painted ware in Cyrenaica, however, is evidence of significant contact with Sicily in the late 10th to early 11th century. But although Cyrenaica is situated on what was a busy international shipping lane between Sicily and Egypt, the historical evidence, and the lack of developed Cyrenaican ports, suggest that the larger international ships did not stop in Cyrenaica. The most likely explanation would, therefore, seem to be the activity of the small-scale 'tramper' boats plying the smaller harbours along the Cyrenaican coast and the Gulf of Surt. Bibliogr., sum. in Arabic.
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