Appendix 6.3

The Incidence of Blickweiler Samian in Britain

For fabric and other details of this East Gaulish ware see Tomber and Dore (1998, 35). Blickweiler was one of the earlier centres of sigillata production in Eastern Gaul, and its products were evidently in circulation before the Antonine era, continuing to c. AD 180/200 (cf. Hartley 1972a, 258-60; Hartley and Pengelly 1976, 104; Dickinson 1997c).

CATALOGUE

By administrative region and site.

This catalogue lists the occurrence of items from this source recorded by the author in the course of the study. Whilst the distribution of this distinctive, though uncommon, ware in Britain was not researched exhaustively it is hoped that this detailed list will be a useful resource.

Essex:

Colchester

Bird, J. 1999. Decorated Central and East Gaulish samian, in R.P. Symonds and S. Wade, Roman Pottery from Excavations in Colchester 1971-86, Colchester Archaeological Report 10, Colchester Archaeological Trust, Colchester, 75-119.

Dickinson, B.M. 1999e. Samian stamps, in R.P. Symonds and S. Wade, Roman Pottery from Excavations in Colchester 1971-86, Colchester Archaeological Report 10, Colchester Archaeological Trust, Colchester, 120-36.

Site type: Major civil centre.

Several vessels from this source have been recorded amongst the pottery from excavations c. 1971-86. These include three decorated bowls in the style of the Cambo group, plus three stamped vessels recorded by Dickinson (1999e, 135), comprising:

Great Chesterford, Temple Precinct 1983-8

Willis, S.H. 2003. Dated catalogue and assessment report on the samian pottery from Great Chesterford, Essex, Report for Essex County Council.

Site type: (At this time) Smaller civil centre and religious complex.

Bowl, probably Drag. 37, c. AD 125-180/200; from Trench XV, context 7. [Identification SHW].

Hertfordshire:

Chells (Stevenage), Boxfield Farm

Going, C.J. and Hunn, J.R. 1999. Excavations at Boxfield Farm, Chells, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust Report No. 2, Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust, Hertford.

Dickinson, B.M. 1999a. Samian, in C.J. Going and J.R. Hunn, Excavations at Boxfield Farm, Chells, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust Report No. 2, Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust, Hertford, 84-7.

Site type: Rural.

One item is reported:

Drag. 18/31R, stamped 'ITOCCAFECIT/' being Tocca of B., Die 9a, c. AD125-150. [Identification BMD]

Verulamium, Insula XIV, 1957-60

Frere, S.S., 1972. Verulamium Excavations. Vol. 1, Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London, Report 28, The Society of Antiquaries, London.

Hartley, B.R. 1972. The samian ware, in S.S. Frere, Verulamium Excavations. Vol. 1, Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London, Report 28, The Society of Antiquaries, London, 216-62.

Site type: Major civil centre.

The following item is reported:

Drag. 37 (complete), from B III 11, a Period IID deposit c. AD 150-155/60, being associated with the 'Antonine Fire Horizon'; not stamped (Hartley 1972, 93, 258-60, D126). [Identification BRH]

Kent:

Each End, Ash

Hicks, A.J. 1998. Excavations at Each End, Ash 1992, Archaeologia Cantiana 118, 91-172.

Savage, A. 1998. The Roman pottery, in A.J. Hicks, Excavations at Each End, Ash 1992, Archaeologia Cantiana 118, 132-50.

Site type: Smaller rural centre, perhaps a 'Roadside Settlement', with cemetery areas.

Amongst a cremation burial group (S15), of approx. mid to late second century date, a Drag. 18/31 dish, from Blickweiler, was recovered. This item was stamped by Verecundus v and will be Hadrianic to early Antonine.

London:

London

Dickinson (1999a) notes the occurrence of a stamp of Tocca, Die 9a, c. AD125-150 from London.

New Fresh Wharf 1974-8

Bird, J. 1986a. Samian wares, in L. Miller, J. Schofield, and M. Rhodes, The Roman Quay at St Magnus House, London. Excavations at New Fresh Wharf, Lower Thames Street, London 1974-78, London and Middlesex Archaeological Society Special Paper No. 8, London, 139-98.

Bird notes the presence of a decorated bowl by Cambo of Blickweiler or an associated potter (1986a, 142, 157, 2.58), dated as early to mid Antonine.

North Lincolnshire:

Old Winteringham

Stead, I.M. 1976. Excavations at Winterton Roman Villa and other Roman sites in North Lincolnshire 1958-1967, Department of the Environment Archaeological Report 9, HMSO, London.

Hartley, B.R. and Pengelly, H. 1976. Samian ware, in I.M. Stead, Excavations at Winterton Roman Villa and other Roman sites in North Lincolnshire 1958-1967, Department of the Environment Archaeological Report 9, HMSO, London, 102-16.

Site type: (At this time) apparently a Smaller centre.

A Drag. 37 is reported, attributed to c. AD 150-170 (Hartley and Pengelly 1976, 104, Fig. 49 No. 37) [Identification BRH and HP].

North Yorkshire:

York, 21-33 Aldwark (Ebor Brewery) 1974

Monaghan, J. 1997. Roman Pottery from York, York Archaeological Trust and the CBA, York. Dickinson, B.M. 1997c. Samian, in J. Monaghan, Roman Pottery from York, York Archaeological Trust and the CBA, York, 943-66.

A Drag. 37 is represented, probably the work of the Blickweiler potter 'L. A- L-' (Dickinson 1997c, 956, Fig. 378 No. 3445).

York

Dickinson (1997c, 945) notes a further Blickweiler vessel from York in addition to that from 21-33 Aldwark.