Le Dressel 20 ad Aquileia: riflessioni su un network di distribuzione dell'olio betico

The recent discovery of numerous Dressel 20 amphorae in Aquileia’s northeastern suburb has prompted a re-evaluation of trade flows in the northern Adriatic and the role of the city’s Roman port in distributing Baetican oil to inland territories. These findings expand upon previous local data, confirming the quantitative uniqueness of these specimens compared to other centers in the Adriatic and northern Italy. The concentration of these amphorae in suburban area – where port and commercial facilities are documented, and from which major communication routes originated – suggests that the oil was primarily destined for settlements along the Rhine and Danube limes, as evidenced by extensive finds in those regions. The application of statistical models to trace this transit flow provides a valuable tool for analyzing distribution patterns from production centers to consumption hubs, offering deeper insights into the dynamics of Roman trade networks.