- Jean Gran-Aymerich with Jean MacIntosh Turfa –
the century.^81 The prestige associated with the Etruscan transport amphorae and their
contents is also manifest by their presence in southern France in funerary assemblages and
in the grotto sanctuary of Roc de Buffens at Caunes-Minervois, Aude (Fig. 17.8).
The little jars – ollette d’impasto – were not only used in food preparation but also in the
transport and conservation of foodstuffs.^82 These vessels appear at the principle port sites
of Marseille, Saint-Blaise, Lattes, Empúries and in the cargo of the shipwreck at Antibes.
Flasks and other small vessels pertaining to the conservation of perfumed oils and
unguents appear amongst the exported Etruscan vases. The region of the littoral from
Provence to Catalonia revealed a certain number of Etrusco-Corinthian alabastra and
aryballoi, contrasting with the absence of certain pottery forms in bucchero, notably
the small amphorae with fl at handles which are so common in Carthage. The Iberian
littoral attests to the isolated presence of Etrusco-Corinthian aryballoi at Ibiza (Puig dels
Molins), Tortosa (Mas de Mussols), La Fonteta (Alacant-Alicante), Villaricos (Almeria),
Malaga (Palacio de Buenavista) and possibly Huelva.^83 Carthage presents an exceptional
concentration of perfume vases in its necropoleis, consisting of Etrusco-Corinthian vases
(alabastra, aryballoi) but also bucchero vases (small amphorae with fl at handles, possibly
certain aryballoi). This plethora of Etruscan perfume vessels also appears in the Punic
colonies of Sardinia and is echoed at Malaga (small amphora with fl at handles in bucchero
from Cerro del Villar, at the mouth of the Guadalhorce).^84
Foodstuffs and perishable productsWe recognize the Etruscan contribution to the diffusion of new products by maritime
and terrestrial routes in southern France and in the Celtic hinterland. Transport amphorae
confi rm the overwhelmingly important role of the wine trade, tied to wine-drinking
ceremonies, banquets and the diffusion of drinking vessels, especially oinochoai and
kantharoi. One might contest the importance of the volume of wine distributed during
the Archaic period, but not the phenomenon itself. Among other products introduced
into temperate Europe from the Mediterranean are coral, ivory, faience, perfume and
incense.^85 Woven fabrics, and possibly certain colorants and mordants, probably played a
role in the exchanges between the Mediterranean and the Celtic world (see Chapter 42).^86
Woven fabrics from long-distance trade were recognized at the port site of Lattes and in
the tomb at Hochdorf, which preserved traces of the red luxury textile of Mediterranean
(Etruscan?) origin wrapped around its king or prince.^87 It is also possible that a link exists
between the Etrusco-Italic fi bulae and the imported fi ne fabrics, which would have been
worn by foreigners or natives who adopted the new fashions.^88
If we consider the importance of the diffusion of entire cargoes of Etruscan amphorae
in the north-western Mediterranean, the main product of Etruscan commerce in the sixth
century would certainly appear to have been a trade in wine, in spite of the presence
revealed by the shipwrecks of some amphorae – larger and with fl at bases – which appear
to have been used to transport oils, olives and other commodities (e.g. resin). If the
consumption of Etruscan wine is not in any way in doubt for the littoral regions where
the amphora are plentiful, we might contrast this with the Celtic hinterland, where
Etruscan amphorae are very rarely attested and Greek amphorae are also few in number.
Recent excavations of the princely residences of Heuneburg, Mont Lassois and Bourges
confi rm the minimal presence of amphorae from Marseille and, up until now, an absence
of Etruscan amphorae. In truth, Etruscan amphorae have been found in small numbers