Some Social Stratum in Dyrrachium during Roman Imperial Period

1. Introduction

In this day, the archaeological studies for the ancient society are more and more focused in social and economic field. The researchers are interested to know about social and economic problem in Antiquity. Therefore, our study is focused in social and economical field of the inhabitants of Dyrrachium during Roman Imperial Period. This ancient city was one of the most important in Albanian territory during Greco-Roman Period.

In this period, it was one of the most important towns in the western coast of the Balkan Peninsula. The historical and archaeological data inform that Dyrrachium was a economical developed town in Antiquity. Also, Dyrrachium was one of the causes why began “The Peloponnesian War” between Athens and Sparta. Not only that, it was the reason why started “The First Roman-Illyrian War”. Some important roads connected the city with other parts of Balkan. This city was the starting point of the ancient Via Egnatia, the most important eastern road in the Roman Empire. The port of Dyrrachium was an important destination for traders and trade convoy from Italy to Balkan in I-IV centuries AD. This was favored from the geographic position and the climatic condition of the city. The archaeological finds that are discovered in the excavations in Durrës were imported from North Africa, Asia Minor, Greece, Dalmatia region, Italy, South Gaul etc. The city of Dyrrachium during I-IV centuries AD had about 40-50 thousand inhabitants.

These reasons inform for the economical development that Dyrrachium had in Antiquity and it was the reason of social division of inhabitants of Dyrrachium in Roman Imperial Period. Although, the classical study defend the theory that in Antiquity the people were divided only in two social categories: the poor people or slave and the richest or masters, this study inform that Dyrrachium was a heterogeneous city in I-IV centuries AD.

1. Project Objective

In the modern city of Durrës are realized dozens archaeological excavations in XX century by Albanian and by non-Albanian archaeologists. Not all of these scientific excavations were focused to study economical and social problems because the archaeologists were more interested to study the artifacts that they had discovered. The studied of stratum was prohibited when the archaeological excavations were concluded from the communist ideology of the regime of dictatorial in Albania, where conflict between the two classes is the root of all problems in society and this situation will ultimately be resolved through a social revolution. Today, after the fall of communist regime in Albania social and economical studies can be conducted freely. This is the focus and the objective of this paper:

Firstly, we will identify stratum in Dyrrachium during the I-IV centuries AD. We know that it is impossible to identify all the social categories that have lived in Dyrrachium because the data are scarce.

Secondly, the study will identify who were part of the Upper, Middle and Lower stratum. As we know, this objective is very difficult because anyone today has made a similar study in Albania yet.

Lastly, we will speak for the privilege that had which of these categories during the Roman Imperial Period. Although, we know that this is a difficult purpose because the historical and the archaeological information are incomplete for Dyrrachium.

On the other hand, these are the purposes of this paper. However, we know that these objectives are not so easy but the archaeological finds will help.

2. Research Methodology

As know, all the scientific study uses their scientific methods. The archaeology study has its methods that scholars use to make scientific study. In this paper, we have used some scientific methods that archaeologists usually use in their study.

Firstly, the principal methods that it is used are the archaeological excavations. These excavations are made by Albanians archaeologists during the last four decades. In different archaeological excavations, they have discovered data about stratums in Dyrrachium during Roman Imperial Period. These archaeological methods are: epigraphic inscription, ceramic, coins, grave etc.

Secondly, ancient Greek and Roman authors have written for Dyrrachium in Antiquity. In their books, they mentioned people and social category of this important city. Some of the ancient authors have mentioned in their book social categories in Dyrrachium during Roman Period. So, they are very important data but.

Also, we have studied the archaeological finds in some Museum in Albania, where they are today. We analyzed the data in the Archaeological Museum of Durrës, in the Archaeological Museum of Tirana and in the Historical Museum of Tirana. These archaeological evidence have important information for stratum in Dyrrachium during I-IV centuries AD

Lastly, another scientific methods used are the conclusions that other archaeologists have made in their studies. In the last fifteen years, Albanian and foreign researches have published papers and books for Dyrrachium where they have spoken for the inhabitants of Durrës in the I-IV centuries AD. These scholars mentioned only one or two social category during the Roman Imperial Period.

I conclusion, these methods not only are scientific but are the most modern. Today, they use all the archaeologists in the world. Although, these are not all scientific methods that archaeologist use in excavations and studies but they are more than that. For this paper, we have used the four methods that we mentioned before because we are conditioned from the archaeological data. In the future, the other archaeological data and methods will identify more stratums in Dyrrachium.

2. Analysis Result

The city of Dyrrachium was one of the most important towns of the Eastern Adriatic coast during Roman Imperial Period. As we mentioned before, important naval and earthly roads connected the city with other parts of Balkan and Apennine Peninsula. So, products and goods came in Dyrrachium from Italy to Balkan and vice versa. Also, the geographic position and the climatic condition had influenced the development of the city in I-IV centuries AD. This is demonstrated from the archaeological finds that are discovered in the archaeological excavations in Dyrrachium as coin, ceramic, glass production, statue, terra cotta, the amphitheater, roman bath, aqueduct etc. These archaeological finds and the ancient roman authors inform that Dyrrachium was a heterogeneity city during Roman Imperial Period. In this paper, I will classify these stratums in three categories: Upper, Middle and Lower stratum.

So, in Dyrrachium during Roman Imperial Period are discovered data that prove that Upper stratum or the Aristocracy has lived here. In this paper, we will mention some of these Upper stratums that are identified until now. The category that we will mention were classify as Aristocracy because they were rich, had privileges and they had governed the city during all Roman Imperial Period.

Firstly, some data inform that roman colonist had inhabited the city after Octavian Augustus declared Dyrrachium a Roman Colony during the end of first century BC. This Roman Emperor established their veteran roman soldiers. This can proved from some Latin inscriptions discovered in Dyrrachium on four roman graves. The inscriptions on them inform that in these tombs were buried members of roman family of Aemilia (Miraj 1991). This was an older roman Patrice family that was established in the town. On others roman tombs discovered in Dyrrachium, as altars and sarcophagus (Koch 1988), are found Latin inscriptions for other roman colonists. The city was governed by these roman colonists during I-IV centuries AD. This category was the richest of the city and they have a lot of privilege. When they came in Dyrrachium, the colonists brought their culture, government system, lifestyle, traditions, religion etc. from their native land. So, the city adapted the roman colonist culture, gusto and requests.

Secondly, the Priests are another Upper stratum discovered in Dyrrachium. This social category is mentioned on some roman inscriptions discovered in Roman cemetery of Durrës and in other part of the city. These inscriptions inform that Augustales, Pontiff, Flamines, Vestal and for simply priests existed in Dyrrachium in I-IV centuries AD (Tartari 2004).

The augur were priest and official in the Classical World where his role was the practice of augury and to interpret the willingness of the gods studying form the flight of birds: whether they are flying in groups or alone, what noises they did when they were flying, direction of the flight and what kind of birds they are. This was known as “taking the auspices”. The ceremony and function of the augur was central to any major decisions of Roman society, public or private, including matters for war, commerce and religion decisions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augur).

On a grave-altar of second century AD in the Archaeological Museum of Durrës it is written that the person who is buried here was a Pontiff (Tartari 2004). During the Roman Imperial Periods, a Pontiff usually was membership of the College of Pontiffs. One of their most important duties was guardianship of the Libri Pontificales or Pontifical Books. Among these books were the Acta Indigitamenta (lists of invocations or the names of the gods), Ritualia, Commentarii, Fasti and Annales (yearly records of magistrates and important events). These books were under the possession of the College of Pontiffs and only they were allowed to consult those when it is necessary.

Also, in the Archaeological Museum of Durrës it is the grave-altar of Luc Papi. On his tomb, it is a inscription which inform that he was a prist of Augustales during second century AD (Miraj 1991).The Augustales were an order or sodalitas of Roman priests, instituted by Tiberius to attend to the maintenance of the cult of Augustus. The Augustales were chosen only by principal persons of the city. Women might be appointed priestesses of Augustus. In the Archaeological Museum of Durrës are other data that prove for existence of the Flamines (Sesteri 1943) and Vestal (Koch 1988) priests.

Also, some ancient authors told in their books for the existences of some temples in Durrës. We knew for the existence of the temple of Artemis (Appian 2002) and for the temple Venus, both were outside of the city. On another roman inscription, we informed that in Dyrrachium was also the temple of Minerva, erected by Luc Papi on o public proprietary (Miraj 1991). Today, all these temples aren’t unidentified yet.

Lastly, the third Upper stratum that it is identified in Dyrrachium is the Local Aristocracy of the city. The inscription on the grave of Syr Epidamnos it is an example. On his tomb the inscription said: Roman horseman, Duumvir, Aedili Quinquennial, Flamines, Augustales, Protector of the Dyrrah Colony, High Priest, Magister (Carpenter) in honor of their permanent prefect… (Miraj 1991). As we can see, Syr Epidamnos had e lot of roman title and only an aristocrat could had all the position in the roman administrate that are wrote on his grave. The archaeological artifacts dated this tomb in I-II centuries AD but his surname, Epidamnos, was the name of Durres in Hellenistic Period. So, it is difficult for us to believe that a roman colonist had as surname the Hellenistic name of the city of Durrës. As a result of, we believe that Syr Epidamnos was a local aristocrat of Dyrrachium that was Romanize and the Roman State included the local aristocracy for govern the city.

So, when Roma invade Dyrrachium, in the first century BC and established the roman colons, a part of local aristocracy of Dyrrachium stood in the city and they took roman culture. The local aristocracy of Dyrrachium coexisted with the roman colons and they together have governed the city between I-IV centuries AD. This was the reason why Syr Epidamnus, a person from Dyrrachium, had all these positions in the roman administrate.

In Dyrrachium are discovered data about Middle social category during I-IV centuries AD. The archaeological artifacts, as ceramic, inscription, glass, unfinished statue, imported products etc. and the ancient roman author informed us for the existence of craftsman in Dyrrachium in I-IV centuries AD. These were part of Middle class and they had wealth, businesses and privileges in Antiquity. So, the Middle stratum had lesser political influence in the city than the aristocracy in I-IV centuries AD because they were lesser rich and privileges than the Upper category. During the day, craftsman worked in their manufactory, which was called by roman Tabernae, to manufacture and sold their goods and products. In this study, will mention some of these Middle social categories that we have identify in this town.

Firstly, the archaeological evidence testified that in the city have lived traders. Some of these ceramics were local products but some others were imported from different part of Roman Empire, also outside the Roman Empire. Also, other artifacts discovered in Durres as roman sarcophagus (Koch 1988), lamps, cups, plates and other ceramics fragments were from Asia Minor, Aegean region, Italy, south and eastern Mediterranean Sea (Tartari 2004) and Dalmatia, Dardania etc. These archeological objects were produced these region and they were imported in Dyrrachium by traders, who move the products and the goods according to market request. The traders made trade between Dyrrachium and the other regions of Roman Empire. Traders moved products and goods from one region to other and sold them. In this period, the producers rarely had directly contacts with consumers.

Dyrrachium, during the Roman Empire, was a consumer city and for completed the inhabitant request the traders went in the other Roman Empire regions to bought products and goods. The free movement, Pax Romana, the unique coin, the street network, the geographical position of the city etc. had an important role to increased the trade between Dyrrachium and other regions of the Roman Empire. However, it is difficult to identify the intensity of this commerce because we have few archaeological data to make a definitive conclusion.

The architects were a category that has lived in Dyrrachium in Antiquity. Today in Durres are finds great and important roman monuments as Aqueduct, Roman Public Bath, Amphitheatre, house, network road, sidewalk, Bibliotheca and temples. These were greatest engineering structure during I-IV centuries AD and these building were erected only by architects. In Dyrrachium, only in one case it is discovered a data about existence of architects during Roman Imperial Period. On a brick of the hypocaust column in Roman Public Bath it is discovered an inscription where wrote: Luc Tulit Valerii Rutus Arkitekt (Miraj 1991). This is a proof which informed us that this category has lived in I-IV centuries AD in Dyrrachium and they built building.

The Potters are another social category discovered in Dyrrachium. The archaeological excavations in Durrës discovered manufactories where were produced ceramic objects (Frashëri 2015). In one case, it is discovered a complete furnace of the second century AD where were produced tiles, bricks and vase as bowl, dishes, amphora, Olpe, Pelike, Krater, cup, Oinochoe etc. (Pani & Papajani 1986). Today this roman furnace it is in the Archaeological Museum of Durrës. The vases produced by potters in Dyrrachium were imitation of Greek, Italian and Dalmatian imported objects. This phenomenon reduced the price of vases and large persons bought that.

The massive use of vases in Roman Imperial Period can be explained from some factors. The pottery was not the primary product that was traded in Antiquity but pottery was the principal manner used to transport the primary products and goods. Consequently, pottery was traded and sold together with the primary products. Also, in the Roman Imperial Period the pottery was not used only to transport products but also for cooked, to deposited produce and it was used to kept liquids and food. As a result, the ceramic was an important product in the lifestyle of persons. The imported vases in Dyrrachium were imported from Central and North Italy, from Greece, where distinguished Athens and Corinth, and from the Asia Minor (Tartari 2004) but large vases were produced from the local manufactures of the city. For the scarcity information, we don’t have sufficient data to prove if potters in Roman Imperial Period had employees or not in their manufactures.

The data that are discovered in archaeological excavation in Durres inform us for presence of woodworker and Carpenters in the town. A manufacture where was elaborated the wood of the I-II centuries AD it is discovered in Dyrrachium. In this manufacture were a produced furniture for house as table, chair, portmanteau, wood spoon, bed etc (Frashëri 2015). Also, for the existence of the carpenter in Dyrrachium are discovered two data in the roman cemetery of Durres. Firstly, on a sarcophagus it is decorated part of a ship and the researchers thinks that the person who was buried here was a ship owner and a carpenter (Koch 1988). Today, this sarcophagus it is in the National Museum of Belgrade.

The second prove that demonstrate the existence of carpenters in the city it is an inscription of I-II centuries AD on the marble tombs of Syr Epidamnus, where was wrote that he was a Magister of Carpenter during Roman Period and the tomb was erected from the College of Carpenter of Dyrrachium (Miraj 1991). Today, this inscription it is in the Louver Museum of Paris. So, we understand that carpenters lived in Dyrrachium and they were organized in college under a magister leadership. It is logical the presence of carpenters in Dyrrachium because the city was closely connected with the sea. This closely connection of Dyrrachium with the sea can explain with massive used of marine roads communication and the sea food that the inhabitants of Dyrrachium consumed in Antiquity. The wood ships had an important role in communication and in fishery. These ships were constructed and repaired by carpenters. So, it was normal that Dyrrachium had specialized persons that constructed and repaired the wood objects.

The sculptors are a middle stratum that have lived and worked in Dyrrachium in I-IV centuries AD. Proves for this category are discovered in some archaeological sites in Durres. In a site near the roman amphitheatre of Durres it is discovered an unfinished statue of a man worked in sandstone (Zeqo 1989) inside an edifice that it was a studios. A bas-relief and a high relief in calcareous stone are discovered on two sarcophagus in Dyrrachium unfinished (Koch 1989 /Tartari 1997) inside another building which was a second studios. These evidences, inform us that in this city had manufacture or studios of local sculptors who worked stone to created artwork. These artists imported un-worked stone from different regions because Dyrrachium had not quarry nearby. The geological analyze of the artifacts that we have mentioned before inform that calcareous stone of sarcophagus were imported from two regions in Albania, Kruja and Karaborun (Tartari 1994).

In Dyrrachium during I-IV centuries had lived tailors, who were s called Sarcinatoris. This is proved from an inscription on a calcareous roman grave of I-II centuries AD (Tartari 2004), where the inscription for the death person said that he was a Sarcinatoris, which was the name of tailor in this period. This grave was erected from the Tailor College of Dyrrachium in honor of the master of Sarcinatoris of the town, who was buried here. The archaeological data are scarce to prove if the tailors were specialized in production of a type of clothing or more than one. We would believe that they could have produced more than one type of clothes. The tailors worked inside of tabernae and they could elaborate leather and wool. If the tailor had employed workers, slaves or they worked alone in their tabernae, the archaeological data and the ancient authors wouldn’t have informed for this detail.

Another category that is discovered in Dyrrachium during I-IV centuries AD is the fishermen. The existence of this stratum came from weight stones and fishhooks discovered in archaeological excavations. The weight stones were used by roman fisherman for held the fishnets immersed under water while fishhooks were used during fishing process (Zeqo 1989). These archaeological evidences inform us that in Dyrrachium lived fisherman. The factors that have favored the businesses of fish in Dyrrachium during Roman Imperial Period were the presence of sea and the market request for sea foods as fish, mussel, shrimp etc. All the sea foods were sold in the market of the city and in hinterland.

In Dyrrachium are discovered facts that in I-IV centuries AD have lived and worked glass producer. We argue this idea from significant number of glassware, un-finished glass dough and two glasswork manufactures that are discovered in Dyrrachium. From the quantity of artifacts, the centuries I-II AD was the gold period of glass production in Dyrrachium because the major part of glass objects, un-finished glass dough and glasswork manufactures are discovered in these centuries. So, part of glassware was imported but the major roman glass that are discovered i Dyrrachium were local products of the city. The glass vessels are brought in Dyrrachium through trade from different province of Roman Empire as Italy, Gaul and Cyprus (Tartari 1996). The local glassware was produced in the glasswork manufactures of I-II centuries AD discovered in Dyrrachium from archaeological excavation. These two manufactures were burned in the end of second century AD (Frashëri 2015).

Also, the chemical analyses of some roman glass objects, discovered in the archaeological excavations in Durres, proved that the sand which was used for the production of these objects was from suburb of Dyrrachium (Tartari 2004). The major glass objects in Dyrrachium are discovered in roman tombs. They were used during the funeral rituals, kitchen utensils and as pharmaceutical and cosmetic objects. Apparently, the import of glass objects had not completed all market requests. This had influenced the local glass production with a low quality but they have undercharge than the imported glass objects. All local glass vases were imitation of the imported objects. The local production reduced the prices of glass objects, even the poor inhabitants.

The Chemists or Pharmacists were part of middle stratum and they have lived in Dyrrachium during Roman Imperial Period. This is proved from archaeological objects that are discovered inside roman tombs in Durres. These archaeological finds were ceramic, glass and ivory objects which were used for preparation, preservation and trade different medicines in I-IV centuries AD. We can mention a small ivory Psykter (Toçi 1965), an Alabastron (Bllaca&Tartari 1989), a vase-urn discovered in the tomb number 63 (Tartari 2004), a pharmaceutical black weight stone that was used to the pharmaceutical scales (Bllaca & Tartari 1989) and a bone spoon which was used for measured medical dose (Bllaca & Tartari 1989). All these objects were used in medicine field. So, during I-IV centuries AD in Dyrrachium had persons who produce and commerce medication. The inhabitants of Dyrrachium bought medicines to Pharmacist or Chemist when they were sickened. If Pharmacist or Chemist had or not workers or they were organized in college, we wouldn’t have enough data about their work.

In the end, in this important city of western Balkan Peninsula in I-IV centuries AD have lived and worked surgeon. This can be proved from the surgical instruments that are discovered in roman graves in Dyrrachium. Different forms and of types scalpel are discovered in Dyrrachium, which surgeon used during surgical interventions. We can mention two bronze scalpels with leaf form (Bllaca & Tartari 1989), another bronze scalpel in spoon form and others two iron scalpels with lance form (Tartari 2004). All these scalpels were used only in ambulatory surgery during Roman Imperial Period. In one case, it is discovered inside a tomb of second century AD a skull with a surgical intervention (Bllaca & Tartari 1989). Obviously, the skull aperture of the dead has quadrangle form and it had to a result of a surgical intervention. Maybe, the person had brain illness and he had to a surgical intervention. A more curate analyze of the aperture told that the wound had stated to heal. So, here is a proof for a surgical intervention on a patient who survived from the surgery intervention but he died some weeks later.

These are the Middle Class that are discovered in Dyrrahium until now. Of course, we know that these are not all the categories because they were more than that. Other data are still in archaeological underground of Durres un-excavated which are waiting to discover from the future archaeologist.

The archaeological finds and ancient authors inform us that in Dyrrachium during I-IV centuries AD also lived poor inhabitants, who were part of Lower Stratum. In this category we have included as slaves also freeman. The major numbers of inhabitants that lived in Dyrrachium were poor. This category had not right, wealth or privileges as the other two stratums that we mentioned before. Of course, some freeman had property as a house, furniture and some things but the slaves had not any right and property. The poor inhabitants of Dyrrachium did the hardest worked in the city. In this paper, we will mention some poor member of Dyrrachium inhabitants that are sure indentify from the archaeological excavations.

The gladiators were part of Lower category that archaeological finds inform that had lived in Dyrrachium. The First archaeological proof this, it is the roman amphitheater of Dyrrachium with a capacity about 20.000 persons, which was the second amphitheater in the Balkan Peninsula, where were held gladiators games. The second proof it is discovered an inscription on a grave that said: Luc Etereius, master of the gladiators game. Goodbye (Miraj 1991). So, in I-IV centuries AD in Dyrrachium a gladiator master organized gladiator games for spectator entertainment. If gladiators were from Dyrrachium inhabitants or they were taken from other parts of Roman Empire, we wouldn’t have enough data to prove this. An interesting proof it is discovered in Dyrrachium about gladiator games organization. An inscription on a marble plaque said that the gladiator games were organized from the Roman State or by private persons (Miraj 1991).

Secondly, in Dyrrachium lived freeman during I-IV centuries AD. The data for this stratum are discovered in the Roman Cemetery of Durres. In this burial place, it is it is discovered an inscription on a roman grave which inform that the buried person was a Libertus (Tartari 1997). The ancient roman called Libertus a freeman, who initially was a slave but he had won his freedom. These persons did hard work to live as: tiller, plowman, digger, sanitation worker etc. They lived in their house because it was not rare that a Libertus had a property. This stratum had few right and they were poor.

The slave is the last stratum that we have indentified in Dyrrachium. Again, the evidences are discovered in the Roman Cemetery of Durres. In this cemetery are discovered poor tombs as funeral stones (Tartari 2004) and grave with tiles (Tartari 1991). The simple architecture, the poor funeral objects inside and the low price are evidence that the persons who had passed away and their family had not enough money for erected a costly tomb. So, in these graves were buried slaves. Due to the scarcity of proves, it is impossible for us to identify all slave categories. This is a great loss for understanding the Lower Stratum in Dyrrachium because slaves constitute an important percentage of the inhabitants of the city.

However, these categories were not all Lower Stratum of Dyrrachium that have lived during I-IV centuries AD but they were more than we mentioned. The difficulty to identify all Lower Stratums in Dyrrachium consists in the scarcities of information that are discovered until now. The city of Dyrrachium was heterogeneous in Roman Imperial Period. The inhabitants of the city were divided in three social categories: Upper, Middle and the Lower.

3. Results and Discussion

This study is focused on the social categories of Durres during the Roman Imperial Period. The study has produced some results that we like to share with other.

Firstly, the archaeological and historical data proved that Dyrrachium was a heterogeneous town in this period. The reason of this heterogeneity was the economical development of the city during the I-IV centuries AD. The economical development has contributed in the social progress and in differentiation of citizens.

Secondly, the archaeological finds proof for the differentiation between the Dyrrachium citizens in the Roman Imperial Period. So, in I-IV centuries AD have coexisted three stratums: The Upper Stratum or The Aristocracy, The Middle Stratum or Crafts and Traders and The Lower Stratum or Poor and Slaves.

Also, each of these categories had their right, privileges and wealth, which were different from each other. Of course, the aristocracy had the most right, privileges and wealth from the other two stratums.

This study proved that the Middle stratum in Dyrrachium during Roman Imperial Period was the most heterogeneous from the other two. Apparently, in this historical period a significant portion of Durres inhabitants were part of Middle stratum.

Lastly result, after Octavian Augustus declared Dyrrachium as a Roman Colony in the end of I century BC, the inhabitants were Romanized only in the end of II century AD. This result proved from the archaeological finds as the amphitheatre, roman public bath, the roman aqueduct, the ritual and architectural burial, the artifacts etc. that are discovered during archaeological excavation. All these are very similar with the data found in the city of Rome. These prove that the inhabitants of Dyrrachium in second century AD had roman culture and lifestyle.

This study told us an interesting topic for discussion. The most part of Dyrrachium inhabitants during I-IV centuries AD were part of Lower and Middle category but the artifacts that are discovered in archaeological excavation were produced by the Upper stratum. The discussion that we wish submit is: if we will have also the artifact of the Middle and Lower stratum, the history of Dyrrachium will be different or not? If yeas, how many different will be the history from what we know today?

4. Conclusion

These were the social stratums that we have identified in Dyrrachium during I-IV centuries AD. Naturally, these are not all the categories that had lived in Dyrrachium in this period. We believe that were more than we have mentioned in this paper. Some classes like baker, batcher, musician etc. are not identified in Dyrrachium yet. The problem of non-identification is linked with the scarcity of data that we have today because Dyrrachium has an un-interrupted life from VII century BC to today. So, some data are destroyed with passing the time and other are not discovered yet.

In conclusion, the study has told us that the Dyrrachium citizens during I-IV century AD were classified in three different social stratums: the Upper Stratum, the Middle Stratum and the Lower Stratum. So, the Upper Stratum included roman colonist, priests and local aristocracy. In the Middle stratum included architects, traders, potters, sculptor, glass producer etc. Lastly, the poor categories included the gladiators, slaves and freeman. Naturally, the archaeological excavation indicated that Dyrrachium during the Roman Imperial Period was a heterogeneous city. In this city, the inhabitants were divided in three social stratums and they were not classified only in two categories, the poor and the rich persons, as we think. The future archaeological excavation will discover more data for the other social stratums in Dyrrachium that are not identified yet.

References