The archaeological site Loron – Figlina (Olive mill remains)

Figlina and the olive mill remains

The archeological site Loron, an ancient Roman economic property of Červar Porat, consists of two large complexes from the Roman era, about 400 meters apart. In ancient times, roads and arcades connected them.

Archaeological research was carried out on it in the 1970s and proved that there was a ceramic production complex with a brick kiln created in the 1st century and an agricultural processing complex – an oil mill – created in the 2nd century. This complex of economic and residential character was produced and lived in the period from the 1st to the 6th century with oscillations in progress depending on the owners of the property and the inhabitants.

On the southern slope, the one facing Červar, there is the potter’s workshop (Latin: figlina) for oil amphorae production. On the west side, the one facing Santa Marina, there is a maritime villa. They were built at the same time, around 10 AD, by the will of Sisenna Statilius Taurus, a famous name of ancient Rome, senatorial rank, who also held the office of consul. This property was built mainly to produce oil, to be exported along the Po River, in the territory of today’s Austria and to the Pannonian region. The Istrian oil produced in Loron therefore had a large market. In addition to oil, there was no shortage of wine production and seafood processing.

Figlina is a large complex (170 x 90 m) which is divided into two modules by an access ramp. The western module served as an apartment for artisans, it had a small thermal bath and some latrines. The actual workshop, which occupies the eastern module, was arranged around a large courtyard in which there was a bath, rooms by the sea served as warehouses, there were large halls for drying amphorae, and processing rooms where artisans produced amphorae. The heart of the workshop was a room with large furnaces where amphorae were fired. The amphorae were stamped with the name of the workshop owner. Thus, the names of the owners can be traced from Sisenna to Emperor Hadrian. Amphora production continued later, but without stamps, and lasted until the end of the III century. From an archeological point of view, the site has a clearly visible complete floor plan and high-quality walls finishes. But what makes the site even more important are the remains of an exceptionally well-preserved amphora furnace.

Date of visit: 21.02.2021

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