Looking for Seconds: Assessing Evidence for Quality Control in Roman Pottery Production at Sikyon, Greece

While evidence for craft production across the Roman Empire is prevalent, limited attention has been granted to consideration of quality control and the decision-making behind designating products as unusable (i.e. wasters) or marketable as lower-quality wares. For pottery, lower-quality or blemished wares that go to market are often referred to as seconds. By examining recently uncovered evidence of Roman-period pottery production at Sikyon, Greece, in conjunction with data from epigraphic and papyrus texts, we will investigate the potential of gaining insight into ancient quality control methods and the potential designation of certain pottery vessels as seconds.