German archaeologist and epigraphist known for his work on Latin inscriptions and, in particular, the discovery of the Duenos inscription, one of the oldest examples of Old Latin. In 1872, during the initial excavations at Monte Testaccio in Rome, he developed a typology for classifying ancient amphorae. Each type or shape of amphora bears his name and a number (there are forty-five in total). Much of Dressel’s synoptic table continues to be of use today.