Monte Testaccio

Monte Testaccio is an ancient artificial hill in Rome, which consists of fragments of Amphorae (Testae) containing only Olive Oil.
It is the largest rubbish heap from the Ancient World and dates from the first century to the 260’s CE. Visiting is by guided tours only.

Monte Testaccio consists of the remains of some 53 million Amphorae, most with a capacity of 70 litres, It appears to have only been used for Amphorae containing olive oil, as these could not be recycled, unlike the amphorae used for wine or grain.
The mountain was created as an alternative to dumping the shards in the Tiber, which had been causing the River to become unnavigable.
Monte Testaccio has a circumference of over 3,000 ft (1 km) and stands 115 ft high (35m)
It was a well managed site, with the shards being broken up to form terraces.

The Amphora was the container of the Ancient World.
1. The Amphorae came from the Provinces of Baetica, Africa and Tripolitana.
2. The Amphorae often showed a ‘Titulus Pictus’, a commercial stamp indicating the product, its origin and destination, its weight and the names of the staff involved, and the name of the export merchant.
3. Some inscriptions show the recipient as being the Praefectus Annonae, in charge of distribution of the Annona Urbis (food for the People of Rome) and the Annona Militaris (food for the Military).

It is possible that the Roman State itself may have created and maintained Monte Testaccio.
Monte Testaccio stands near to the Horrea Galbae, a huge warehouse used to store the Annona Publica (The Public grain supply), as well as Olive Oil, wine, and other foodstuffs.
The Olive Oil was possibly the Tributum from those Provinces that produced it.

Monte Testaccio, Rome