Session: #432

Regular session

Research on logistics and distribution is a tool to unravel the organization of ancient economies and trade relations. Unfortunately, research on logistics is often restricted to the distribution of small finds like pottery, glass and metal objects. They show exceedingly long and far trade links for small and precious goods. However, the scale of the trade in heavy building goods, such as timber, stone, lime and ceramic building material, has always been way bigger in volume as well as in financial turnover. Because of the bigger impact of this trade, it requires a higher organizational level and an extensive infrastructure. Therefore, to understand the organization of logistics it is important to look in particular at heavy goods such as stone and timber. Above all settlement sites, which were not conveniently located close to quarries, forests and building lime sources required a constant supply of materials, not only for building purposes but also for alterations and repair work. The way, logistics is organized reflects the internal organization of a society and, thus, is never static or universal. As societies change, the organization of trade and logistics will change as well. This session will discuss the logistics of bulk transport and the organization of the construction of roads, forts and public buildings. The focus will be on trying to highlight the differences of this organization within Northern Europe and its changes through time (5th century BC - 5th century AD).
This session is co-organised by the "Structural Determinants of Economic Performance in the Roman World" (SDEP) Scientific Research Network, funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (Belgium) (FWO).

logistics, transportation, natural resources, building goods, organization trade

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Timo Vanderhoeven (Netherlands) ¹

Eva Kars (Netherlands) ¹
Toon Bongers (Belgium) ²
Peter Kienzle (Germany) ³
Florent Delencre (France) ⁴