Pearl profusion: economic consequences of large-scale pearl production and trade in the Imperial Roman Age

Deborah Hope

Pearl profusion: economic consequences of large-scale pearl production and trade in the Imperial Roman Age

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

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Abstract

Pearls punched above their weight in antiquity. Pearl adornment projected power, prestige, and status, as it does today. The pre-existence of highly organised pearl fishing in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Mannar enabled the commodification of pearls in exchange systems operating in the ancient Mediterranean and Eastern Mediterranean spheres. Increased supply matched by rising demand for pearls contributed to producing thriving luxury retail sectors in Rome and the growing urban foundations of the Near East, Asia Minor and elsewhere to serve a rapidly expanding consumer base. The extent and vital importance of the international trade in luxury commodities is apparent in data extrapolated from two 2nd century CE financial documents, the Muziris Papyrus and a Palmyrene tower-tomb inscription. Pearls offer a case study of large-scale luxury commerce that may contribute to our understanding of ancient societies.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 12th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East
Subtitle of host publication	volume 1
Editors	Nicolò Marchetti
Place of Publication	Wiesbaden
Publisher	Harrassowitz Verlag
Pages	825-837
Number of pages	13
ISBN (Electronic)	9783447119030, 9783447393539
ISBN (Print)	9783447118736
Publication status	Published - 2023
Event	12th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East - Alma Mater Studiorum Universita di Bologna, Bologna, Italy Duration: 6 Apr 2021 → 9 Apr 2021 https://eventi.unibo.it/12icaane

Conference

Conference	12th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East
Abbreviated title	12th ICAANE
Country/Territory	Italy
City	Bologna
Period	6/04/21 → 9/04/21
Internet address	https://eventi.unibo.it/12icaane

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2023. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

pearl
ancient trade
Roman archaeology
Palmyra
Roman economy
pearl fishing
pearl trade
luxury trade
Persian Gulf

Access to Document

Publisher version (open access)Final published version, 558 KBLicence: CC BY-SA

Cite this

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title = "Pearl profusion: economic consequences of large-scale pearl production and trade in the Imperial Roman Age",

abstract = "Pearls punched above their weight in antiquity. Pearl adornment projected power, prestige, and status, as it does today. The pre-existence of highly organised pearl fishing in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Mannar enabled the commodification of pearls in exchange systems operating in the ancient Mediterranean and Eastern Mediterranean spheres. Increased supply matched by rising demand for pearls contributed to producing thriving luxury retail sectors in Rome and the growing urban foundations of the Near East, Asia Minor and elsewhere to serve a rapidly expanding consumer base. The extent and vital importance of the international trade in luxury commodities is apparent in data extrapolated from two 2nd century CE financial documents, the Muziris Papyrus and a Palmyrene tower-tomb inscription. Pearls offer a case study of large-scale luxury commerce that may contribute to our understanding of ancient societies.",

keywords = "pearl, ancient trade, Roman archaeology, Palmyra, Roman economy, pearl fishing, pearl trade, luxury trade, Persian Gulf",

author = "Deborah Hope",

note = "Copyright the Author(s) 2023. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.; 12th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, 12th ICAANE ; Conference date: 06-04-2021 Through 09-04-2021",

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language = "English",

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pages = "825--837",

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publisher = "Harrassowitz Verlag",

address = "Germany",

url = "https://eventi.unibo.it/12icaane",

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Hope, D 2023, Pearl profusion: economic consequences of large-scale pearl production and trade in the Imperial Roman Age. in N Marchetti (ed.), Proceedings of the 12th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East: volume 1. Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden, pp. 825-837, 12th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Bologna, Italy, 6/04/21.

Pearl profusion: economic consequences of large-scale pearl production and trade in the Imperial Roman Age. / Hope, Deborah.
Proceedings of the 12th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East: volume 1. ed. / Nicolò Marchetti. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2023. p. 825-837.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

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ER -

Pearl profusion: economic consequences of large-scale pearl production and trade in the Imperial Roman Age

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this