Day 11 #Archaeology31 #Point The question I'm always asked about Roman Amphorae "Why are the pointed?" "It means you have to have a stand!" No it doesn't, start in a corner, you can stack hundreds. "I makes them impossible to throw" No, because they're finished upside down 1/3 
"Yes, but why have a POINT? because they're designed to go in an ancient ship, no flat surfaces so the pegs, between the timbers, hold them in place. (photo Ad Meskens). In addition if they had a flat bottom it would take 2 people to pour them, the #point allows 1 to do it 2/3
In a Roman or Greek updraft kiln the flames come from below, the bottoms of the pots heat first, and expand. In large flat bottomed pots this can cause stress cracking, the point of the amphora allows flames to pass, heating the pots more evenly. 3/3
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