The Testaccio (a Latin word that derives from the original “testa” which means “broken piece of ceramic”) reaches a height of 54 meters and has more than 1 km in diameter, and more importantly it is made out of more than 40 millions broken pieces of ceramic, once amphoras used to store and transport olive oil. 85% of those amphoras came from Hispania, especially the Baetica province. In a way we could dare to say that this “eighth Roman hill” is almost entirely made out of Baetica’s soil – that was the name Andalusia had for the Romans–; those millions of broken amphoras were once just uncooked mud laying at the riverbanks of the Guadalquivir and Genil rivers. Time and again archaeologists found the names of Hispalis, Corduba and Astigi (Sevilla, Córdoba and Écija) marked all over these broken amphoras.
However, it was believed for a long time that these fragments were part of a forgotten cemetery; also the hypothesis of the potters guild being located there was a strong one. It was not until the XXth century that academics begun to decipher some of the labels, stamps, and mere signs and symbols that repeatedly appeared in these old ruined amphoras.
Amphoras’ remains coming out of the hill.
Thanks to these inscriptions experts have been able to reconstruct the route of this golden green gold that flowed nonstop from the Baetica towards the big cities of the Empire. The ports and Roman potteries were located at riverbanks of the Guadalquivir and the Genil rivers. From there the precious cargo would sail down river to Hispalis where the cargo was loaded into bigger ships ready to cross the Mediterranean sea. On top of these amphoras the different details of the route were written, from its maker to the one in charge of taxing the product.
Olive oil coming from the Baetica docked at the port of Ostia and from there made its way up the Tiber river to Rome. Each product was reserved a special area where to be unloaded. Olive oil, sauces and wine had the area that we now know as the Testaccio.
The amphoras would then be unloaded into wineskins and put into wagons to be transported; the emptied amphoras were later thrown in a dumpster that after three centuries became a small artificial hill, Mount Testaccio. The amphoras were disposable containers.
The vast quantity of disposed amphoras gives us an idea of just how strategically important was Baetica’s olive oil to the Roman Empire. It was not only a nutritious ingredient but it also served as medicine and natural preservative, plus it was one of the vital sources of energy and light of the Roman civilization, that is fuel. Olive oil was as vital for the Romans as petroleum is for our society nowadays.
THE AMPHORAS.
The production of amphoras was simple and the resulting product was easy to transport by land or sea. Big round ones were used to transport olive oil and once loaded they would weight close to a hundred kilograms. However you must be wondering how could they stand still with no base? But this has an explanation for they were made specially to be stored in ships. They were designed to withstand the continuous waves and storm when sailing. It was a necessity that these fragile amphores would not move. Taking this into consideration the amphores were sunk into a layer of sand that provided sufficient base so that the cargo would not break nor move. Following this first layer of sand hay was added until it reached the top of the amphora. This technique guaranteed the cargo reaching any Mediterranean port.
This commercial activity prolonged for many centuries gradually gave birth to this eighth Roman hill, all made out of Andalusian soil. By the way as of today the area is one the most fashionable quarters in the city, discotheques, pubs and elite clubs have decided to thrive all around it.