Topography and Development of the Explored Centres

Abstract

The development of ceramic production on the territory of Nicopolis ad Istrum was connected with the general economic upsurge taking place in the Roman provinces at the beginning of the 2nd century А.D.

The first potter's workshops were built in the surroundings of the newlyfounded Roman town, as well as on its urban territory, near rich clay deposits, water sources and woods, in the proximity of big settlements and – last but not least – along the important Roman roads connecting Nicopolis ad Istrum with near and far-off towns of the Empire.

Traces of ceramic production during the 2nd-4th century have been preserved in the northwestern outskirts of Nicopolis ad Istrum along the small river running along the village of Nikjup and the east fortification wall of the town. Ruined pottery kilns and many fragments of fine and coarser earthenware were discovered in that area. А clay mould for making clay lamps was also found there. Similar clay moulds were found in Butovo and dated to the 3rd century.

In the last few years regular archaeological explorations began at a big centre for production of bricks and tiles, situated south of the present-day town of Bjala Cerkva, along the Roman road from Novae to Disconduraterae, Augusta Traiana, Constantinople and Asia Minor. Three kilns for baking of tegulae have been discovered so far, as well as the foundations of a big architectural complex which had existed from the 2nd to the 4th century. Кilns for various earthenware had been destroyed while exploiting the clay-pits for the modern plant for ceramic production.

Archaeological explorations have been carried out on a wide scale for more than two decades now on the territory of Nicopolis ad Istrum and particularly in the three ceramic centres discovered near the present-day towns and villages of Hotnica, Pavlikeni and Butovo. The ceramic centre near Hotnica was the earliest, i. е. in the first decades of the 2nd century. The ceramic centre near Pavlikeni was founded at the same period, followed some time later by the ceramic centre in Butovo.