Romano-British Pottery

Abstract

A KNOWLEDGE of the names of the potters by whom the pottery found on Romano-British or British sites was made is obviously of great value to the archaeologist in the interpretation of the ceramic evidence. If the site of the potter's factory is known, as it is in many instances, it serves to indicate the trend of cultural and commercial relations. Among the firstfruits of this season's excavations at Colchester has been the identification of names of two potters inscribed on the ‘Samian’ (Terra Sigillata) ware. Examples of these maker's ware had previously been found at both Colchester and Verulamium. There are, however, indications that evidence may be forthcoming pointing to a local factory, thus confirming the view that Samian ware was manufactured in Britain as well as imported. In the study of Samian ware, Dr. Felix Oswald's “Stamps on Terra Sigillata” (privately printed, 1931) is indispensable; but although every effort was made to make that list complete, additions, whether from excavation or from examples in museums, are bound to come to light from time to time. A considerable number of examples not recorded in Dr. Oswald's lists, though all by previously known potters, will be found in a “Catalogue of Potter's Stamps on Terra Sigillata found in Gloucester”, by Mr. Charles Green, curator of the Gloucester Museum (Public Museum, Gloucester, Occasional Papers No. 1. Price 6d.), which has recently been issued by the Museum authorities. There are in all fifty-six specimens, ranging in date from Nero to Antonine. The pre-Flavian and Flavian stamps are all of South Gaulish potters. Thirty-nine come from central Gaul and three from eastern Gaul.