José Remesal Rodríguez

José Remesal Rodríguez (born June 27, 1948, in Lora del Río, Sevilla) is Professor of Ancient History at the University of Barcelona since 1988, affiliated with the Department of Prehistory, Ancient History and Archaeology. His academic career began with research grants at the Instituto Rodrigo Caro in Madrid (1973-75) and the Spanish School of History and Archaeology in Rome (1976).

Professor Remesal Rodríguez has established himself as a leading authority on Roman economic history, with particular expertise in amphora studies, Roman trade networks, and the distribution of food products throughout the Empire. His research has centered on the analysis of Dressel 20 amphorae containing Baetican olive oil, which has revolutionized understanding of interprovincial trade patterns.

His scholarly output demonstrates remarkable consistency and depth, with significant publications spanning from the 1980s to the present. Recent works like Heinrich Dressel y el Testaccio (2022) and Arqueología y Téchne (2022) showcase his continued research productivity and evolving methodological approaches. His publications reveal a progression from detailed cataloging of archaeological materials to increasingly sophisticated theoretical frameworks for understanding Roman economic integration.

• Roman Trade Networks and Economic Integration
• Amphora Studies (particularly Dressel 20)
• Roman Military Supply Systems
• Economic Relations between Roman Provinces
• Historiography of Roman Archaeology
• Ancient Food Economies

Professor Remesal Rodríguez has made significant contributions to collaborative research projects, most notably the EPNet project (ERC Advanced Grant), where he applied formal methods to investigate Roman economic networks. His work on the 'Timbres Amphoriques' project has produced comprehensive catalogs of amphora stamps that serve as essential references for researchers worldwide. His research has demonstrated how the Roman Empire developed sophisticated administrative systems that enabled long-distance trade across vast territories, fundamentally reshaping understanding of ancient economic integration.

His work with CEIPAC has produced detailed analyses of amphora distributions, particularly the extensive study of materials from Colonia Ulpia Traiana (Xanten), revealing patterns of Mediterranean-Germania trade relations. Professor Remesal Rodríguez's scholarship bridges traditional archaeological analysis with innovative quantitative approaches, making significant contributions to ongoing debates about the nature of the Roman economy.