Appendix 6.5

The Incidence of 1st Century/Trajanic (c. AD 20-120) Central Gaulish Lezoux Samian in Britain

For this ware see the significant article by Boon (1967), plus the report on this ware found at Fishbourne during the excavations of 1961-9 by Dannell (1971). For fabric and other details, including further important references relating to typology and chronology, see Tomber and Dore (1998, 31-2).

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 ware in Britain was not researched exhaustively it is hoped that this detailed list will be a useful resource. The nature of the distribution is discussed in the text (cf. Section 6.4).

Buckinghamshire:

Bancroft, site of Temple-Mausoleum

Williams, R.J. and Zeepvat, R.J. 1994. Bancroft. A Late Bronze Age / Iron Age Settlement, Roman Villa and Temple-Mausoleum, Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society Monograph Series 7, Aylesbury.

Pengelly, H. 1994. Catalogue of samian found at the 'mausoleum' site, in R.J. Williams and R.J. Zeepvat, Bancroft. A Late Bronze Age / Iron Age Settlement, Roman Villa and Temple-Mausoleum, Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society Monograph Series 7, Aylesbury, 625.

The following item is reported:

Cambridgeshire:

Godmanchester, London Road, 1997

Willis, S.H. forthcoming c. The samian pottery, in A. Jones, Roman Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire: Excavations at London Road (1997), The Parks (1998), and elsewhere, Birmingham Archaeology Monograph, BAR British Series.

Site type: Smaller civil centre.

The following forms are reported:

Cumbria:

Birdoswald fort, Birdoswald Spur, Site 590, 1996

Wilmott, T. forthcoming. Excavations at Birdoswald Spur, Site 590.

Willis, S.H. forthcoming f. The samian pottery, in T. Wilmott, Excavations at Birdoswald Spur, Site 590.

Site type: Roman military fort.

The following items occur amongst a samian assemblage of c. 313 sherds (300 from excavations; 13 from environmental samples):

Carlisle, Castle Street, 1981-2

Taylor, J. 1991. The Roman Pottery from Castle Street, Carlisle: Excavations 1981-82, Carlisle Archaeological Unit, Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Research Series 5, Fascicule 4, Kendal.

Dickinson, B.M. 1991a. The samian ware, in J. Taylor, The Roman Pottery from Castle Street, Carlisle: Excavations 1981-82, Carlisle Archaeological Unit, Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Research Series 5, Fascicule 4, Kendal, 344-65.

One example is noted by Dickinson being a Drag. 37 of "presumably Flavian or Trajanic date" (1991, 358, Fig. 295, No. 86). This item was recovered from a mid to late second century context. [Identification BMD].

Derbyshire:

Little Chester

Present (Dickinson 1992b).

Devon:

Topsham

Jarvis, K. and Maxfield, V. 1975. The excavation of a first-century Roman farmstead and a late Neolithic settlement, Topsham, Devon, Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society 33, 209-65.

Hartley, B.R. 1975. Samian ware, in K. Jarvis and V. Maxfield, The excavation of a first-century Roman farmstead and a late Neolithic settlement, Topsham, Devon, Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society 33, 229-32.

Site type: Rural.

The following item is reported:

Dorset:

Dorchester, County Hall, 1988

Mills, J.M. and Corney, M. 1993. Samian, in R.J.C. Smith, Excavations at County Hall, Dorchester, Dorset 1988, Wessex Archaeology Report 4, Wessex Archaeology, Salisbury, 42-6.

Site type: Major civil centre.

The following items are reported:

Essex:

Colchester, Sheepen, Colchester Institute site 1999

Willis, S.H. 1999d. The samian pottery from the Colchester Institute Site, Essex, 1999 (CIC99), Report for Essex County Council Field Archaeology Unit.

Site type: Major civil centre.

The following item is reported:

Cressing Temple, Dovehouse Field, 1998

Willis, S.H. 1999b. The samian pottery from Cressing Temple, Dovehouse Field, Essex, 1998 (CTDF98), Report for Essex County Council Field Archaeology Unit.

Site type: ?Rural.

The following items are reported:

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: Forts, Smaller civil centre and religious complex.

The following items are reported:

Great Chesterford, from the excavations and fieldwork at The Vintners GC14

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

Site type: Forts, Smaller civil centre and religious complex.

The following items are reported:

Heybridge, Elms Farm, 1993-5

Dickinson, B.M. forthcoming. Samian, in M. Atkinson, Excavations at Heybridge, Elms Farm, 1993-5.

Site type: Smaller centre.

The following items are reported:

Gloucestershire:

Cirencester

Wacher, J.S. and McWhirr, A.D. 1982. Early Roman Occupation at Cirencester, Cirencester Excavations 1, Cirencester Excavation Committee, Cirencester.

Hartley, B.R. and Dickinson, B.M. 1982. The samian, in J.S. Wacher and A.D. McWhirr, Early Roman Occupation at Cirencester, Cirencester Excavations 1, Cirencester Excavation Committee, Cirencester, 119-46.

Site type: (At this time) Roman military fort.

The following forms are reported:

Middle Duntisbourne

Mudd, A., Williams, R.J. and Lupton, A. 1999. Excavations alongside Roman Ermin Street, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The Archaeology of the A419/A417 Swindon to Gloucester Road Scheme, Oxford Archaeological Unit, Oxford.

Dannell, G.B. 1999b. The samian, in A. Mudd, R.J. Williams and A. Lupton, Excavations alongside Roman Ermin Street, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The Archaeology of the A419/A417 Swindon to Gloucester Road Scheme, Oxford Archaeological Unit, Oxford, 329.

Site type: LIA/early Roman period (ie. first century AD) enclosure, presumed to be settlement enclosure, near to Ditches and Bagendon.

The following form is reported:

Sea Mills

Site type: (At this time) Roman military installation.

Boon (1967) notes 2 examples of this ware:

Hampshire:

Silchester, pre 1970

Site type: Major civil centre.

Boon (1967) publishes a series of vessels of this ware:

Silchester, site of Forum-Basilica

Fulford, M.G. and Timby, J. 2000. Late Iron Age and Roman Silchester. Excavations on the site of the Forum-Basilica 1977, 1980-86, Britannia Monograph Series 15, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, London.

Bird, J. 2000b. Summary, in M.G. Fulford and J. Timby, Late Iron Age and Roman Silchester. Excavations on the site of the Forum-Basilica 1977, 1980-86, Britannia Monograph Series 15, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, London, 183-7.

The following forms are reported:

Hertfordshire:

Baldock, 1968-72

Stead, I.M. and Rigby, V. 1986. Baldock: The Excavation of a Roman and Pre-Roman Settlement 1968-72, Britannia Monograph Series 7, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, London

Dannell, G.D. 1986. Decorated samian forms, in I.M. Stead and V. Rigby 1986, Baldock: The Excavation of a Roman and Pre-Roman Settlement 1968-72, Britannia Monograph Series 7, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, London, 213-22.

Site type: Smaller centre / Religious focus?

The following forms are reported (Dannell 1986, 215):

[Identification GBD]

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. 1972a. 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 forms are reported (Hartley 1972a, 217, Fig. 80):

In sum, amongst all deposits dated c. AD 40-160 three first century Lezoux vessels occur compared with a total of c. 1704 South Gaulish La Graufesenque vessels. [Identification BRH]

Lancashire:

Kirkham

Mills, J.M. 2000. Samian, in C. Howard-Davis and K. Buxton, Roman Forts in the Fylde: Excavations at Dowbridge, Kirkham, Centre for North West Regional Studies, Lancaster University, Lancaster, 47-50 and 93-6.

Site type: A sequence of Roman military installations.

Early Lezoux samian is represented by sherds from 3 vessels including a Drag. 37 bowl, dated c. AD 100-120 and attributed to potter X-12; this item has a drilled rivet hole for repair (Mills 2000, 48, 50, 94, Fig. 9.9). [Identification JM].

Ribchester

Dickinson, B.M. 2000a. Samian, in K. Buxton and C. Howard-Davis, Bremetenacum, Excavations at Roman Ribchester 1980, 1989-1990, Lancaster Imprints, Lancaster University Archaeological Unit, Lancaster, 202-24.

Site type: Roman military fort.

The following form is reported:

Leicestershire:

Leicester, Causeway Lane

Clark, R. 1999. The Roman pottery, in A. Connor and R. Buckley, Roman and Medieval Occupation in Causeway Lane, Leicester, Excavations 1980 and 1991, Leicester Archaeology Monographs 5, University of Leicester Archaeological Services, Leicester, 95-164.

Site type: Major civil centre.

A first century Lezoux vessel is represented amongst a layer assigned to site phase 2G (Clark 1999, 117), this phase having a ceramic date of c. AD 100-125 and a stratigraphic date of early second century AD or later. (No further details).

A Drag. 24/25 stamped '[ATEPO]MAR' being the work of Atepomarus ii, Die 10b, occurs in Phase 5C context 889, dated to the mid/late 3rd century; the item is dated c AD 50-65 (Dickinson 1999d, 106). Identification BMD, GBD and RC

London:

London

Marsh (1981, 225) notes three items of first century Lezoux ware from London. No typological details are given.

In Guildhall Museum

The following forms are reported:

The site of the Forum 1968-9

Philp, B. 1977. The Forum of Roman London: excavations 1968-9, Britannia 8, 1977, 1-64.

Dannell, G.B. 1977. The samian pottery, in B. Philp, The Forum of Roman London: excavations 1968-9, Britannia 8, 1977, 45-50.

Site type: Major civil centre.

The following items are reported:

One first century Lezoux vessel occurs amongst an assemblage of 147 samian vessels, covering the period c. AD 44-100; the assemblage is otherwise entirely SG La Graufesenque, bar 1 first century Montans vessel.

Details:

"Form 29 (rim). Nero-Vespasian" (Dannell 1977, 48); "From Period IV rubbish deposit under East Road". Period IV is dated by Philp to c. AD 60-90. [Identification GBD]

North Yorkshire:

York, Coppergate

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 first century Lezoux dish is noted from this site by Dickinson which she suggests may be: "the first [example of this ware] to be recorded from York" (1997, 944-5).

Shropshire:

Whitchurch, 1965-6

Jones, G.D.B. and Webster, P.V. 1969. Mediolanium: excavations at Whitchurch 1965-6, The Archaeological Journal 125, 193-254.

Wild, F.C. 1969. The samian pottery, in G.D.B. Jones and P.V. Webster, Mediolanium: excavations at Whitchurch 1965-6, The Archaeological Journal 125, (193-254) 215-21.

Site type: (At this time) probable Roman military fort.

The following item is reported:

Staffordshire:

Rocester, New Cemetery

Dickinson, B.M. 1996a. Samian ware, in A.S. Esmonde Cleary and I.M. Ferris, Excavations at the New Cemetery, Rocester, Staffordshire, 1985-1987, Transactions of the Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society 35, for 1993-1994, 73-95.

Site type: Roman military fort/s.

The following forms were represented in this ware (Dickinson 1996a):

Rocester, Orton's Pasture

Ferris, I.M., Bevan, L. and Cuttler, R. 2000. The Excavation of a Romano-British Shrine at Orton's Pasture, Rocester, Staffordshire, BAR British Series 314, Archaeopress, Oxford.

Willis, S.H. 2000b. The samian pottery, in I.M. Ferris, L. Bevan and R. Cuttler, The Excavation of a Romano-British Shrine at Orton's Pasture, Rocester, Staffordshire, BAR British Series 314, Archaeopress, Oxford, 38-45.

Site type: Probable shrine, possibly military.

The following items are reported from Phase 1 deposits dated c. AD 85-150:

F 603, Pit north of Enclosure 1, context 6033:

F 702, S2, Enclosure Ditch, context 6505:

F 702, S3, Enclosure Ditch, context 6527:

F 702, Enclosure Ditch, context 6555:

From post-Phase 1 context, context 6025:

Rocester appears to be one of a select number of sites that acquired modest, though relatively high, numbers of vessels from this source during the pre-Hadrianic decades. [Identification SHW]

Rocester, The Old Shops site, 2000

Willis, S.H. forthcoming e. The samian pottery, in I.M. Ferris, Excavations at The Old Shops site, Mill Street, Rocester, Staffordshire 2000, Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit Monograph.

The following forms were represented in this ware (Willis forthcoming e):

In terms of frequency it is perhaps noteworthy that there were 2 vessels of this source present amongst a total of c. 176 vessels identifiable to form from site phase 2. Identification SHW

Warwickshire:

Alcester, Baromix factory site, 1969 and 1972

Booth, P.M. and Evans, J. 2001. Roman Alcester: Northern Extramural Area, 1969-1988 Excavations, Roman Alcester Series Vol. 3, CBA Research Report 127, CBA, York.

Ward, M. 2001. Samian ware (ALC 69 and ALC 72/2), in P.M. Booth and J. Evans, Roman Alcester: Northern Extramural Area, 1969-1988 Excavations, Roman Alcester Series Vol. 3, CBA Research Report 127, CBA, York, 31-47.

Site type: Probable fort and subsequently a 'Small Town'.

The following items are reported from the Barometer factory site 1969:

Three first century Lezoux vessels occur amongst a group of c. 58 samian vessels from Phase A, covering the period c. AD 60-100/110; (the group is otherwise entirely SG La Graufesenque).

Details:

The following item is reported from the Barometer factory site 1972:

One vessel of first century Lezoux ware is reported, being a Drag. 27; this was residual in its find-context (Ward 2001, 41). [Identification MBW].

Alcester, Southern Extramural Area, 1964-66

Cracknell, S. and Mahany, C. (eds) 1994. Roman Alcester: Southern Extramural Area 1964-1966 Excavations part 2: Finds and Discussion, CBA Research Report 97, York.

Hartley, B.R., Pengelly, H. and Dickinson, B.M. 1994. Samian ware, in S. Cracknell and C. Mahany (eds) Roman Alcester: Southern Extramural Area 1964-1966 Excavations part 2: Finds and Discussion, CBA Research Report 97, York, 93-119.

Site type: Probable fort and subsequently a 'Small Town'.

The following item is reported:

One vessel, again, seemingly, a product of Campanus i, occurs (Hartley, Pengelly and Dickinson 1994, 105):

Baginton

A decorated vessel of Atepomarus is reported (Dannell 1971, 301).

Birmingham, Metchley forts, 1963-97

Jones, A.E. 2001. Roman Birmingham I: Metchley Roman forts, excavations 1963-4, 1967-9 and 1997, Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society 105, for 2001.

Pengelly, H., Hartley, B.R. and Dickinson, B.M. 2001. Samian, in A.E. Jones, Roman Birmingham I: Metchley Roman forts, excavations 1963-4, 1967-9 and 1997, Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society 105, for 2001, 101-3.

Site Type: Roman military fort.

One example of first century Lezoux ware is represented amongst a samian assemblage of c. 112 vessels, all of first century AD date. The form is Drag. 15/17 or 18 and is stamped ']...VS', though this stamp is not identified; from Area 1a, T7 11 (Pengelly, Hartley and Dickinson 2001, 101). Id: HP, BRH and BMD

Tiddington

Present (Dickinson 1992b).

West Sussex:

Fishbourne, 1961-9

Dannell, G.B. 1971. The samian pottery, in B.W. Cunliffe, Excavations at Fishbourne 1961-1969. Volume 2. The Finds, Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London, 27, Leeds, 260-316.

The following forms are reported (Dannell 1971, 266-7, 301, 303, Fig. 124): Nineteen examples of plain forms were present:

Decorated vessels comprised:

Dannell attributes the group to the site period 1, so: "the dating of the majority must run c. AD 50-75" (1971, 266).

West Yorkshire:

Castleford

Dickinson notes the occurrence of this ware at Castleford (1997c, 944).

Worcestershire:

Droitwich, Friar St

Woodiwiss, S. (ed.) 1992. Iron Age and Roman Salt Production and the Medieval Town of Droitwich: Excavations at the Old Bowling Green and Friar Street, CBA Research Report 81, Council for British Archaeology, London.

Dickinson, B.M. 1992b. Samian, in S. Woodiwiss, (ed.) Iron Age and Roman Salt Production and the Medieval Town of Droitwich: Excavations at the Old Bowling Green and Friar Street, CBA Research Report 81, Council for British Archaeology, London, 58-61 and 154 & microfiche 1:G13-2:C12 and 3:B11-12.

Site type: Smaller centre / industrial complex.

The following item is reported:

Droitwich, Old Bowling Green site

Woodiwiss, S. (ed.) 1992. Iron Age and Roman Salt Production and the Medieval Town of Droitwich: Excavations at the Old Bowling Green and Friar Street, CBA Research Report 81, Council for British Archaeology, London.

Dickinson, B.M. 1992b. Samian, in S. Woodiwiss, (ed.) Iron Age and Roman Salt Production and the Medieval Town of Droitwich: Excavations at the Old Bowling Green and Friar Street, CBA Research Report 81, Council for British Archaeology, London, 58-61 and 154 & microfiche 1:G13-2:C12 and 3:B11-12.

Site type: Smaller centre / industrial complex.

The following forms are reported:

Scotland:

Camelon

Site type: Roman military fort/s.

Present (cf. Hartley 1989, 218).

Buchlyvie, Fairy Knowe broch

Willis, S.H. 1998b. The Iron Age and Roman pottery, in L. Main, Excavation of a timber round-house and broch at the Fairy Knowe, Buchlyvie, Stirlingshire, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 128, for 1998, 321-31.

The following item is reported:

Strageath

Frere, S.S. and Hartley, B.R. 1989. List of samian sherds, in S.S. Frere and J.J. Wilkes, Strageath. Excavations within the Roman Fort 1973-86, Britannia Monograph Series 9, London, 204-11.

Site type: Roman military fort/s.

Approximately four vessels from various contexts are represented amongst the samian from the 1973-86 excavations:

Wales:

Brecon, Y Gaer

Site type: Roman military fort.

Boon (1967) publishes an example of this ware:

Caerleon, The Legionary Museum site 1983-5

Zienkiewicz, J.D. 1993. Excavations in the Scamnum Tribunorum at Caerleon: The Legionary Museum site 1983-5, Britannia 24, 27-140.

Dickinson, B.M. 1993b. The samian ware, in J.D. Zienkiewicz, Excavations in the Scamnum Tribunorum at Caerleon: The Legionary Museum site 1983-5, Britannia 24, 87-98.

Site type: Legionary fortress.

Dickinson notes there are: "four Central Gaulish decorated bowls (Nos 26, 28, 29; and archive No. 55) in the pre-Hadrianic Lezoux fabric which reached Britain in small quantities from the Neronian periods onwards. Two at least appear to be made from moulds made at Les Martres-de-Veyre (Nos 26, 28). The transference of moulds from one factory to another was not uncommon and there are many instances of Hadrianic decorated bowls made at Lezoux in moulds from Les Martres, but to find Trajanic examples in Britain is unusual. Only very small quantities of Lezoux ware reached the province in the first and early second centuries. Its distribution was thought until recently to have been confined to the South, South West and Midlands, but several finds have now been made at Agricolan forts in Scotland, such as Camelon and Strageath. Other vessels have long been known from Wales" P. 98.

Nothing relating to the presence or absence of plain forms of this source and date is noted. The following items are noted:

Caerleon, The Canabae 1984-90

Evans, E. 2000. The Caerleon Canabae: Excavations in the Civil Settlement 1984-90, Britannia Monograph Series 16, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, London.

Hartley, B.R. 2000. The samian, in E. Evans, The Caerleon Canabae: Excavations in the Civil Settlement 1984-90, Britannia Monograph Series 16, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, London, 178-97.

Site type: Military, extra-mural.

The following item is noted:

1 vessel of Drag. 15/17 or 18 is probably an example of first century Lezoux ware, amongst an overall samian assemblage of 3218 vessels, from all contexts, at Riding School Field, Cambria House, and Smallholding (Hartley 2000, 179-180). This example came from the Riding School field site. [Identification BRH].

Caerleon, before 1970

Boon (1967) publishes the following examples of this ware:

Caersws

Site type: Roman military fort.

Boon (1967) records three examples of this ware:

Segontium

Casey, P.J. and Davies, J.L., with Evans, J. 1993. Excavations at Segontium (Caernarfon) Roman Fort 1975-1979, CBA Research Report 90, Council for British Archaeology, London.

King. A. and Millett, M.J. 1993. Samian, in P.J. Casey, et al. Excavations at Segontium (Caernarfon) Roman Fort 1975-1979, CBA Research Report 90, Council for British Archaeology, London, 234-49.

The following items are reported:

Usk, 1965-76

Manning, W.H. 1993. Report on the Excavations at Usk, 1965-76: The Roman Pottery, University of Wales Press, Cardiff.

Hartley, B.R. and Dickinson, B.M. 1993. The samian stamps, in W.H. Manning, Report on the Excavations at Usk, 1965-76: The Roman Pottery, University of Wales Press, Cardiff, 205-15. Site type: Legionary fortress.

The following item is reported: