Wealth of Palmyra by world wide trade 2: Small Finds

Within an international cooperation project, archaeological research was done in Palmyra/Syria during the last 10 years. Within this project, the area of the hellenistic pre-roman settlement was localized south of the Wadi outside the later roman town by geophysical prospection. It was proofed by test trenches that building activities in this area can be dated from the 3rd century BC up to the 3rd century AD. This throws a completely new light on the historical development of the urbanism of Palmyra. In the very centre of this `hellenistic hill`, a large courtyard like building was excavated that can be interpreted as a caravn building (`Khan`) or residence of a caravan leader. The construction of the building about the middle of the 1st century BC and its destruction or abundance at the end of the 3rd century AD might be understood with the creation of the Roman province Syria (in 64 BC) on the one hand and with the capture of Palmyra by the Roman emperor Aurelian (in 272/3 AD) on the other hand. The results of the research are published within two volumes by several collaborators. Volume II: The samall finds Volume II contains the publication and interpretation of the so called small finds, that is especially the pottery (including the amphorai and terracotta lamps), the glass and metal finds, the tesserae and coins, animal bones and botanic material. For the first time, a typology of Palmyrene glass vessels is presented. The reseach on the animal bones give first ideas about animal holding and eating customs of the people. With the analyses of the pottery, imports can be reconstructed to Palmyra from as far as from Spain, North Africa, Italy, the Middle Danube area, the Greek islands, Cyprus, Egypt and Parthian Mesopotamia. This proves the world wide `global` trade connections of the caravan city and its enormous economic and cultural wealth resulting from it, and it throws new light on the economic and social history of ancient Palmyra.