Books by Verena Gassner
G. Greco (Hrsg.), ELEA – VELIA. Culti greci in occidente. Fonti scritte e documentazione archeologica IV (Taranto 2023) 111-162, 2023
Von Hyele zu Velia. Die Stadtmauern im urbanistischen Kontext. Die Befunde. Die österreichischen Forschungen in der West- und Unterstadt (1974, 1990–1993 und 1997–2001). Velia-Studien IV/1. Wien, 2024
The urban development of a city is often closely linked to its fortifications. Comprehensive rese... more The urban development of a city is often closely linked to its fortifications. Comprehensive research, undertaken by a multidisciplinary team of the University of Vienna between 1997 and 2001, focused on the evolution of Velia's city walls in relation to the urban development of the Greek colony on the Tyrrhenian coast. The new results mainly provide new information on the development of the city between the 5th and the 2nd c. BC and focused on a study of the architecture of the fortification as well as on a detailed analysis of the complex stratigraphy and the geology. A major force for the dynamics of urban evolution were ecological factors, mainly due to the instability of the slopes on which the city was built, and due to recurring, destructive sea floods. The complete contextualization and processing of the finds from these excavations (pottery, small finds and coins) allows for a new, precise dating of the individual periods of the urban development, eventually changing older approaches. The newly understood relations have implications for the interpretation of the fortifications in other historical and cultural settings as previously assumed.
Velia-Studien IV/2, 2024
Die österreichischen Forschungen in der Unterstadt von Velia, die von 1974 bis 2001 von einem mul... more Die österreichischen Forschungen in der Unterstadt von Velia, die von 1974 bis 2001 von einem multidisziplinären Team durchgeführt wurden, erlaubten es, die Stadtmauern dieser phokäischen Polis an der tyrrhenischen Küste Süditaliens mit der urbanistischen Entwicklung der Siedlung in Bezug zu setzen und damit Einblicke in ihre Entwicklung vom 5. bis zum 2. Jh. v. Chr. zu gewinnen. Die vollständige Bearbeitung des Fundmaterials dieser Grabungen, das Keramik, Kleinfunde und Münzen umfasste, erbrachte erstmals eine präzise Datierung der einzelnen Perioden der Stadtentwicklung und ermöglichte es gleichzeitig, ein umfassendes Bild der Entwicklung der lokalen Keramikproduktion nachzuzeichnen sowie anhand einer innovativen Bestimmung der Produktionszentren der importierten Keramik die sozio-ökonomischen Beziehungen Velias sowohl auf regionaler als auch überregionaler Ebene zu verfolgen.
1971–2021: 50 anni di ricerche Austriache a Velia/1971–2021: 50 Jahre Österreichische Forschungen in Velia, 2023
V. Gassner – M. Ladurner – D. Svoboda – M. Trapichler, Le mura di Velia. Le mura e il sacro, in: ... more V. Gassner – M. Ladurner – D. Svoboda – M. Trapichler, Le mura di Velia. Le mura e il sacro, in: G. Tocco (Hrsg.), La cinta fortificata di Velia e le aree sacre. (Verona 2009) 79-134
Amphorae studies by Verena Gassner
This contribution aims at describing the evolution of Western Greek amphorae from the 6th to the ... more This contribution aims at describing the evolution of Western Greek amphorae from the 6th to the 4th c. BC.
In the last years archaeological research as well as a series of interdisciplinary and archaeometric analyses made
clear that the choice of a model for the Western Greek amphorae did not depend on the ethnic origin of producers
or consumers, but from a variety of factors. Among these, the repertory of transport amphorae available in the
region evidently played an important role. Thus on the Tyrrhenian coast of Italy until the 6th c. BC the prototype
for transport amphorae was chosen from Phoenician-oriental models, while the productions of the Ionic-Adriatic
region were influenced by Corinth. In this area we observe a plurality of types from the 6th c. onwards, which
continues at least until the 4th c. BC.
Keywords: Greek amphora, typology, archaeometry
V. Gassner - R. Sauer, Transport amphorae from Velia, www.facem.at - 06-06-2015
X. Nieto - M. Santos (eds.), El vaixell grec arcaic de Cala Sant Vincenc, Monografies del CASC 7, Girona 2008
The fundings of this project, conducted by V. Gassner, have been provided by the Austrian Science... more The fundings of this project, conducted by V. Gassner, have been provided by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF, P 10476 SPR), and by the "Scientific and technological cooperation Austria-Italy" (project no. 42, 1994-1995). Samples have been provided by the kind help of the Soprintendenze per i Beni archeologici nelle province di Salerno, Avellino e Benevento, delle Province di Napoli e Caserta, della Calabria e della Soprintendenza per i Beni Culturali e ambientali della provincia di Messina.
FACEM (version 06/06/2011) (http://www.facem.at/project‐papers.php)
The Albanian and North Western Greek coast and the opposite Apulian area of Italy have been influ... more The Albanian and North Western Greek coast and the opposite Apulian area of Italy have been influenced by close cultural and economic contacts from the very beginning of Greek colonization or even before. 1 Taking into account these similarities we decided to subsume this region under the common name Ionic-Adriatic region. 2 On the eastern side, this region comprises the Albanian coast from Epidamnos (?) via Apollonia to Buthrotos, actual Butrint, as well as the Epirote coast with the offshore island of Corfu. 3 Though recently a production of amphorae of the Corinthian B type was also assumed for the island of Hvar (ancient Pharos) in the surroundings of Split (Croatia), it is still unclear if we have to consider these finds as imports or as local products. 4 On the Italian side, the definition of the region turned out to be more difficult and the suggestions made here have to be seen as preliminary only. Evidently the Apulian coast and the Salento area make up part of it though, at the moment, no amphora production centers of major importance are known to us. We also suggest including the gulf of Taranto, in particular the ancient territories of Taranto, Metaponto and probably Siris/Heracleia. Though the amphora production of all these sites is poorly known, there is some evidence at Metaponto that this site did not use the form Sourisseau's A-MGR 2. When publishing the necropolis of Metaponto (loc. Pantanello and Salone) the American team observed 51 transport amphorae, 38 of which belonged to the Corinthian types A, A' and B, the latter being strongly in the minority with only four specimens. 5 Most of the amphorae dated to the Late sixth and to the fifth centuries B.C.E. and therefore to a period when we would expect Western Greek amphorae of Sourisseaus type A-MGR 1 or A-MGR 2 like in the materials from Sybaris, Caulonia and Locri. These types evidently are completely missing at Metaponto. We therefore can conclude either that the type Corinthian A was the preferred import to Metaponto from Corinth and from centers of the Epirote coast or we also could assume a local production that used that type. 6 Doubtlessly further investigations have to be conducted on the topic. Thus, the series of transport amphorae supposed to have been produced in the Ionic-Adriatic region show a puzzling variety both of fabrics and of form types. Their morphology mostly displays the clear impact of Corinth or its colonies like Corcyra, but, in particular in the Hellenistic period, we also find amphorae of the Graeco-Italic type that could have been produced there (see below). Whereas the production of amphorae of the so-called Corinthian B type has already been identified by V. R. Grace and C. Koehler, 7 the confirmation that also amphorae of the Corinthian A type were produced in this region is mainly a result of Roald Docter's studies of the amphorae of Butrint. 8 We have, however, to take into consideration that This article should be cited as: V. Gassner, "Amphorae Production of the Ionic-Adriatic Region".
Minerals, Mar 2, 2020
Within the frame of an in‐depth study of the corpus of about 560 western Greek transport
amphora... more Within the frame of an in‐depth study of the corpus of about 560 western Greek transport
amphorae (6th–5th century BC) yielded from excavations at the necropolis of the Dorian‐Chalcidian
colony of Himera in North‐western Sicily, one of the most interesting issues consists in the determination
of their provenance. Based on archaeological considerations, nearly 100 items have been attributed
to southern Campania, specifically to Poseidonia and Elea. The present paper proposes a detailed
combined archaeological‐archaeometric investigation of 16 samples discovered at Himera and one
at Jerba (Tunisia), of presumed Campanian provenance, compared with 4 local reference samples
from Poseidonia and 6 samples of western Greek amphorae found at Pithekoussai and Elea,
attributed to Poseidonia by previous archaeometric analysis. All samples have been submitted to a
macroscopic fabric examination according to the standard methods of FACEM (Fabrics of the Central
Mediterranean) and to petrographic investigation (polarised light microscopy) and digital image
analyses of microstructures. Our study points to a Campanian provenance of the investigated
amphorae and their distinction in a large group from Poseidonia and a small group from Elea. The
identification of a numerous assemblage of 5th century BC Poseidonian transport vessels at Himera
substantially underlines an earlier hypothesis about its ‘Campanian connection’ and allows for the
reconstruction of an important Tyrrhenian commercial axis.
FACEM (version 06/06/2011) (http://www.facem.at/project‐papers.php, 2011
Papers Magna Grecia by Verena Gassner
Cursus studiorum. Festschrift für Gunther Schörner zum 65. Geburtstag. Propylaeum (L. Diers - D. Hagmann - B. Hamarneh - J. Kopf - H. Schörner edd.), 2025
This paper deals with the cultural development of Velia, a Greek colony in Southern Campania, in ... more This paper deals with the cultural development of Velia, a Greek colony in Southern Campania, in the 1 st century BC and the 1 st century AD, in particular with the problem of various theoretical approaches regarding the cultural changes in this period. A synthesis of the known contexts and monuments of Velia, referring to the sacral and public sphere, shows that until now our knowledge of the situation in the respective period is very poor. Thus the application of various theoretical models for explaining the cultural development of the settlement should be seen with caution as without concrete archaeological basis.
Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 2020
The knowledge on the material production from archaeological sites contains valuable information ... more The knowledge on the material production from archaeological sites contains valuable information on the technological advances and on the commercial routes of a civilization. Archaeologists can face some ambiguities in the assessment of the productive function of furnaces emerging from excavation when archaeological markers are not available due to a poor conservation state. A protocol to discriminate among the production of lime and ceramics is the major aim of this work. Indeed, herein, we address the possibility to assist archaeologists by a vibrational spectroscopy-based identification of furnace productive function using a proper sampling, particularly to discriminate between kiln for ceramics from calcara. The proposed analytical procedure supported by a geological survey of the area was established, defining also the application limits, by investigating four cases, one from the sanctuary of Hera at the mouth of river Sele (Paestum), two from Velia (Eastern and Southern quarters), and the fourth from Roscigno. Some care during sampling from furnaces and in the interpretation of possible interferences in Raman and FT-IR spectra are also discussed.
This contribution gives an overview on productive activities in the town of Elea/Velia (Lucania, ... more This contribution gives an overview on productive activities in the town of Elea/Velia (Lucania, Southern Italy) and its territory. After a summary of our previous knowledge of kilns and other indicators for pottery production within the town follows a short description of the kiln in Contr. Vasalia in the valley of Fiumarella, excavated in 1927, but re-examined few years ago by a group of young archaeologists. Subsequently we present the first results of the new project of the University of Vienna in the Eastern quarter of the town. Here at least 15 kilns, for which a production of pottery and bricks can be assumed with high probability, have been detected by geo-magnetic prospection in 2015. Most surprising however was the discovery of a large amount of iron slag over all the area which indicated the production of iron at Velia. During the excavations of 2015 and 2016 we explored two kilns of the Late Republican period, which were badly preserved, but for which the production and ...
G. R. Tsetskhladze (ed.), Ionians in the West and East. Proceedings of an International Conference ‘Ionians in the East und West’. Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya-Empúries, Empúries/L’Escala, Spain, 26-29 October, 2015, Colloquia Antiqua 27 (Leuven – Paris – Bristol, CT 2022), 521-540
The problem of how Greek towns arose in Italy is among the well-discussed topics of eastern as we... more The problem of how Greek towns arose in Italy is among the well-discussed topics of eastern as well as western Mediterranean studies. This paper gives an overview of the situation of ancient Elea, a colony founded by Phocaeans in southern Italy in 535 BC. It first summarises our present state of knowledge of the settlement of the first and second generation and then concentrates on the transition phase to a large town with an extension of at least 50 ha, enclosed by a fortification wall, paying particular attention
to the role of sanctuaries during this process.
ÖJh 90, 2021 (2022) 101-146, 2021
Verena Gassner – Regina Klingraber – Alexander Sokolicek, The Northern Quarter – an Unexplored
... more Verena Gassner – Regina Klingraber – Alexander Sokolicek, The Northern Quarter – an Unexplored
Urban Quarter of Velia
The Northern quarter of Velia on the Tyrrhenian coast of Campania represents an area which until now
was nearly totally neglected by archaeological research. This contribution presents the exploration of the
fortifications of these area (wall D), conducted by F. Krinzinger in the 1970ies, which are compared by us
to the results of our more recent excavations of the fortifications in the Lower town of Velia. These studies
of the years 1997–1999 allowed a better chronological classification of the development of the defensive
architecture of Velia and in consequence some insights into the urban development of the quarter, which are
supported by few recent observations in the area after a great fire in 2017. Finally, we present a catalogue
of the tombs of the Roman period, found during the excavation of Porta Marina Nord
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Books by Verena Gassner
Amphorae studies by Verena Gassner
In the last years archaeological research as well as a series of interdisciplinary and archaeometric analyses made
clear that the choice of a model for the Western Greek amphorae did not depend on the ethnic origin of producers
or consumers, but from a variety of factors. Among these, the repertory of transport amphorae available in the
region evidently played an important role. Thus on the Tyrrhenian coast of Italy until the 6th c. BC the prototype
for transport amphorae was chosen from Phoenician-oriental models, while the productions of the Ionic-Adriatic
region were influenced by Corinth. In this area we observe a plurality of types from the 6th c. onwards, which
continues at least until the 4th c. BC.
Keywords: Greek amphora, typology, archaeometry
amphorae (6th–5th century BC) yielded from excavations at the necropolis of the Dorian‐Chalcidian
colony of Himera in North‐western Sicily, one of the most interesting issues consists in the determination
of their provenance. Based on archaeological considerations, nearly 100 items have been attributed
to southern Campania, specifically to Poseidonia and Elea. The present paper proposes a detailed
combined archaeological‐archaeometric investigation of 16 samples discovered at Himera and one
at Jerba (Tunisia), of presumed Campanian provenance, compared with 4 local reference samples
from Poseidonia and 6 samples of western Greek amphorae found at Pithekoussai and Elea,
attributed to Poseidonia by previous archaeometric analysis. All samples have been submitted to a
macroscopic fabric examination according to the standard methods of FACEM (Fabrics of the Central
Mediterranean) and to petrographic investigation (polarised light microscopy) and digital image
analyses of microstructures. Our study points to a Campanian provenance of the investigated
amphorae and their distinction in a large group from Poseidonia and a small group from Elea. The
identification of a numerous assemblage of 5th century BC Poseidonian transport vessels at Himera
substantially underlines an earlier hypothesis about its ‘Campanian connection’ and allows for the
reconstruction of an important Tyrrhenian commercial axis.
Papers Magna Grecia by Verena Gassner
to the role of sanctuaries during this process.
Urban Quarter of Velia
The Northern quarter of Velia on the Tyrrhenian coast of Campania represents an area which until now
was nearly totally neglected by archaeological research. This contribution presents the exploration of the
fortifications of these area (wall D), conducted by F. Krinzinger in the 1970ies, which are compared by us
to the results of our more recent excavations of the fortifications in the Lower town of Velia. These studies
of the years 1997–1999 allowed a better chronological classification of the development of the defensive
architecture of Velia and in consequence some insights into the urban development of the quarter, which are
supported by few recent observations in the area after a great fire in 2017. Finally, we present a catalogue
of the tombs of the Roman period, found during the excavation of Porta Marina Nord
In the last years archaeological research as well as a series of interdisciplinary and archaeometric analyses made
clear that the choice of a model for the Western Greek amphorae did not depend on the ethnic origin of producers
or consumers, but from a variety of factors. Among these, the repertory of transport amphorae available in the
region evidently played an important role. Thus on the Tyrrhenian coast of Italy until the 6th c. BC the prototype
for transport amphorae was chosen from Phoenician-oriental models, while the productions of the Ionic-Adriatic
region were influenced by Corinth. In this area we observe a plurality of types from the 6th c. onwards, which
continues at least until the 4th c. BC.
Keywords: Greek amphora, typology, archaeometry
amphorae (6th–5th century BC) yielded from excavations at the necropolis of the Dorian‐Chalcidian
colony of Himera in North‐western Sicily, one of the most interesting issues consists in the determination
of their provenance. Based on archaeological considerations, nearly 100 items have been attributed
to southern Campania, specifically to Poseidonia and Elea. The present paper proposes a detailed
combined archaeological‐archaeometric investigation of 16 samples discovered at Himera and one
at Jerba (Tunisia), of presumed Campanian provenance, compared with 4 local reference samples
from Poseidonia and 6 samples of western Greek amphorae found at Pithekoussai and Elea,
attributed to Poseidonia by previous archaeometric analysis. All samples have been submitted to a
macroscopic fabric examination according to the standard methods of FACEM (Fabrics of the Central
Mediterranean) and to petrographic investigation (polarised light microscopy) and digital image
analyses of microstructures. Our study points to a Campanian provenance of the investigated
amphorae and their distinction in a large group from Poseidonia and a small group from Elea. The
identification of a numerous assemblage of 5th century BC Poseidonian transport vessels at Himera
substantially underlines an earlier hypothesis about its ‘Campanian connection’ and allows for the
reconstruction of an important Tyrrhenian commercial axis.
to the role of sanctuaries during this process.
Urban Quarter of Velia
The Northern quarter of Velia on the Tyrrhenian coast of Campania represents an area which until now
was nearly totally neglected by archaeological research. This contribution presents the exploration of the
fortifications of these area (wall D), conducted by F. Krinzinger in the 1970ies, which are compared by us
to the results of our more recent excavations of the fortifications in the Lower town of Velia. These studies
of the years 1997–1999 allowed a better chronological classification of the development of the defensive
architecture of Velia and in consequence some insights into the urban development of the quarter, which are
supported by few recent observations in the area after a great fire in 2017. Finally, we present a catalogue
of the tombs of the Roman period, found during the excavation of Porta Marina Nord
The Eastern quarter represents a hitherto widely neglected quarter of the town of Velia. This paper presents the first results of a project conducted in the peripheral area of the large south-eastern terrace in the years 2015-2019. Starting with a campaign of geophysical prospection, followed by four campaigns of excavations, we obtained new insights into the urbanistic organization of the area and its chronological development from the 3rd century B.C. to the late antique period. A summary of the finds of African Sigillata provides new information regarding the presence of this ware in Velia and allows greater precision of the chronological data. Most surprising was the discovery of activities not only of working but also producing iron in the late Republican period; a first overview of the slags is presented.
connected with the reconstruction of the city walls at the beginning of the 4th cent. b.C.
After a summary of our previous knowledge of kilns and other indicators for pottery production within the town follows a short
description of the kiln in Contr. Vasalìa in the valley of Fiumarella, excavated in 1927, but reexamined few years ago by a group
of young archaeologists. Subsequently we present the
first results of the new project of the University of Vienna in the Eastern
quarter of the town. Here at least 15 kilns, for which a production of pottery and bricks can be assumed with high probability,
have been detected by geo-magnetic prospection in 2015. Most surprising however was the discovery of a large amount of iron slag
over all the area which indicated the production of iron at Velia. During the excavations of 2015 and 2016 we explored two
kilns of the Late Republican period, which were badly preserved, but for which the production and working of iron was proven by
a high quantity of slag as well.
This contribution focuses on the presence of Ionians in the Mediterranean from Naucratis to the Iberian Peninsula and gives an overview of the actual state of research (2022)
of finds considerably decreases at the beginning of the third century BC, at the very time when the first finds appear in nearby Notion.
This very likely indicates that the old city of Colophon lost its importance to the new settlement of Notion, also known in this period as “Colophon on the Sea”.
Available online with images
Available online with images
Link: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2972/hesperia.86.1.0043