{"product_id":"9781785704055","title":"The Ancient Red Sea Port of Adulis, Eritrea: Report of the Etritro-British Expedition, 2004-5","description":"The port of Adulis was one of greatest significance in Antiquity.   It is best known for its role in Aksumite trade during the fourth  - seventh centuries AD. However it is also a major port of the   Periplus of the Erythraean Sea , a sailors' hand-book of the first century AD. Not only did it offer a good harbour on the  route to India, but it was a source for luxuries such as ivory,  tortoise-shell and rhinoceros horn.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The site was first identified by Henry Salt, in 1810, but there  have always been a number of problems, both chronological and  topographical, with the identification.  Firstly, the surface  pottery is late in date and accords with Aksumitic importance  rather than the Roman.  Secondly, Adulis is referred to as a  port, but it is today 7 km from the sea. The  Periplus  refers to an island approached by a causeway, which suggested to some  that the site was originally at Massawa, 60 km to the north, a  town which today comprises islands connected by causeways.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The work of Cosmas Indicopleustes,  'Christian Topography'   written in the 6th Century AD, mentions two other places, Gabaza  and Samidi, which have never been identified. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The field work on which this book is based resolves these issues.  It is suggested that Roman Adulis underlies the Aksumite city.   Also the pottery and structures on the Galala hills to the south,  show that this was almost certainly the site of Aksumite Gabaza.  However, off the seaward end of the hills is a rock which would  have been a small island in Roman times and on it was a scatter  of 1st century AD Roman wine amphorae (Dressel 2-4). The Periplus  tells us that ships used to moor of Diodorus Island which was  connected to the mainland by a causeway, but was later moved to  an island called Oreinê (hilly) for greater security. The latter  can be none other than Dese which is the only hilly island in the  area and on it field survey has located a fine harbour and an  early Roman settlement. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The remaining site, Samidi, has also been found, for 7 km north  of Adulis are large stone mounds. Architectural fragments and  fragments of human bone suggest that this may have been an  impressive mausoleum, perhaps the burial place of the kings of  Adulis.","brand":"Oxbow Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47169833730288,"sku":"9781785704055","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781785704055_p0.jpg?v=1763729342","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781785704055","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}