Project description
Exploring how transport amphorae shaped ancient Mediterranean commerce
From the second to the first century BCE, the Roman Republic experienced significant economic growth and commercial expansion, which is often attributed to the state’s influence. The ERC-funded NORMA project challenges this notion, aiming to establish that regional networks, rather than centralised governments, were instrumental in driving economic integration via the development of standardised transport containers (amphorae) for trade. To do so, it will chart trade routes, reconstruct production systems and pinpoint key economic centres and distribution networks across the western Mediterranean. The research results will demonstrate that standardisation emerged from the collaborative actions of decentralised, regional participants, redefining our view of how past societies forged connections and conducted long-distance trade.
Objective
NORMA aims to reassess the role of state intervention in Roman economic growth by investigating the standardisation of transport amphorae, essential for long-distance trade. The project focuses on the western Mediterranean during the Late Republic (2nd-1st century BCE), which was characterised by rapid economic growth and commercial expansion. NORMA will show that regional actors, rather than the state, were instrumental in increasing economic efficiency through the development of standardised transport containers. This standardisation was crucial in enabling trade integration and contributed to the long-term economic expansion of the Roman Empire. While current studies often emphasise the influence of the state, NORMA fills the gap in understanding the contributions of smaller, decentralised actors. These regional networks played a key role in improving production efficiency and expanding connectivity across the empire. Using digital tools such as network analysis, 3D modelling, and geographic information systems (GIS), coupled with new archaeological data obtained through innovative statistical methods, NORMA will map trade routes, reconstruct production systems, and identify key economic hotspots and distribution networks across the western Mediterranean. By means of this study, NORMA will demonstrate that standardisation resulted from the combined efforts of decentralised regional players. This changes our understanding of how ancient societies established connection and long-distance trade by repositioning standardisation as an active force behind economic integration and expansion. NORMA's results will contribute to broader debates in archaeology and economic history by revealing the mechanics underlying these processes and provide important insights into how non-state actors promoted economic growth in other past societies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- humanities history and archaeology history
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences physical geography cartography geographic information systems
- humanities history and archaeology archaeology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
48940 LEIOA
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.