For this ware see, with provisos, Hull (1963) and the significant article by Simpson (1982). Vessels attributed by Hull to a 'Colchester samian potter C' are now seen as imported samian from Sinzig (Simpson 1982; Storey et al. 1989). For fabric and other details see Tomber and Dore (1998, 133) as well as Tyers (1996, 114-6) and Bird (2003, 122).
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, along side the distribution recorded by Rodwell (1982).
(Paul Tyers has mapped a distribution of this ware in Britain. Dr Tyers had recorded 22 sites in Britain with this ware as at Feb. 2003)
Wickenden, N.P. 1992. The Temple and other Sites in the North-Eastern Sector of Caesaromagnus, Chelmsford Archaeological Trust Report 9, CBA Research Report 75, London.
Rodwell, W.J. 1992. The samian, in N.P. Wickenden, The Temple and other Sites in the North-Eastern Sector of Caesaromagnus, Chelmsford Archaeological Trust Report 9, CBA Research Report 75, London, 92-3.
Site type: Civil centre.
Rodwell notes: "One sherd of f33 is probably Antonine Colchester ware, with a curious chocolate brown gloss" (1992, 92). [Identification WJR]
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.
Dickinson records 12 stamped vessels from the excavations of 1971-86 attributed to a Colchester source with 6 different potters represented (Dickinson 1999e); the potters are Acceptus iii, Cunopectus, Gabrus ii, T.Littera, Litugenus iv and Senilis iv. These stamps occur on forms: Drag. 18/31R, Drag. 31, Drag. 33, and a rouletted platter.
Dickinson notes: "Stamps of potters known by their fabrics or by the presence of wasters to have worked at Colchester, with no Continental connections, have contributed no more than one per cent of the assemblage as a whole, or five per cent of the Hadrianic and Antonine samian. Given the relatively short life of the pottery, this proportion is not unexpected. These men all seem to have been active in the later Antonine period" (1999e, 121).
Bird reports that five decorated sherds (Drag. 37) of Colchester samian were recovered from 3 different sites (1971-86 excavations) all in the style of Colchester Potter A (1999, 119); she points out that this indicates the low level of decorated samian manufacture at Colchester. [Identification JB & BMD].
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.
Three sherds were recovered that were examples or probable examples of Colchester samian:
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 or dish, c. AD 155-180
Drag. 31R, c. AD 160-180
The exact context of these finds has been lost; they are accessioned in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge, under the code, Z.28615. [Identification SHW].
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.
Drag. 31R, c. AD 160-180; from Trench 3, context 5, no stamp; over-fired. [Identification SHW]
Wickenden, N.P. 1988. Excavations at Great Dunmow, Essex: a Romano-British Small Town in the Trinovantian Civitas, East Anglian Archaeology, Report 41, Chelmsford Archaeological Trust Report 7, Essex County Council.
Rodwell, W.J. 1988. Samian ware, in N.P. Wickenden, Excavations at Great Dunmow, Essex: a Romano-British Small Town in the Trinovantian Civitas, East Anglian Archaeology, Report 41, Chelmsford Archaeological Trust Report 7, Essex County Council, 76-9.
Site type: Smaller centre.
Three vessels in Colchester fabric are noted by Rodwell, being examples of forms 18/31, 33 and 37R (1988, 77).
Willis, S.H. 1999c. The samian pottery from Brook House Road, Great Tey, Essex (GTEBR98), Report for Essex County Council Field Archaeology Unit.
Site type: Rural.
Amongst a total of 32 sherds of samian recovered during the fieldwork, representing c. 17 vessels, the following item occurs:
Two of these vessels occur in a deep red fabric, the other two in a buff fabric reminiscent of other Roman pottery types produced in Colchester; the latter have little or no slip remaining. Variability in the appearance of the fabric of Colchester samian is well attested, as are the problems in discriminating these products from some of those from the East Gaulish workshops (cf. Tyers 1996, 114-6). [Identification SHW].
Dickinson, B.M. forthcoming. Samian, in M. Atkinson, Excavations at Heybridge, Elms Farm, 1993-5.
Site type: Smaller centre.
Around 92 samian vessels (c. 101 maximum) amongst the large samian assemblage from this site are Colchester products. Of the 92 a very high proportion are plain forms (87) with just 5 decorated forms present (Dickinson forthcoming).
Forms present include: Drag. 18/31 or 31; 27; 37; 45 (see Dickinson forthcoming)
Rodwell, K.A. 1988. The Prehistoric and Roman Settlement at Kelvedon, Essex, CBA Research Report 63, London.
Rodwell, W.J. 1988. The samian pottery, in K.A. Rodwell, The Prehistoric and Roman Settlement at Kelvedon, Essex, CBA Research Report 63, London, 92-100.
Present (Rodwell 1988), no further details. [Identification WJR].
Rodwell, W.J. and Rodwell, K.A. 1993. Rivenhall: Investigations of a Villa, Church and Village 1950-1977, 2, Chelmsford Archaeological Trust Report 4.2, CBA Research Report 80, London.
Rodwell, W.J. 1993. The samian pottery, in W.J. Rodwell and K.A. Rodwell, Rivenhall: Investigations of a Villa, Church and Village 1950-1977, 2, Chelmsford Archaeological Trust Report 4.2, CBA Research Report 80, London, 71-3.
"Since Rivenhall is only 16km from Colchester, it is not surprising that three or four vessels from the site are probably British samian" (Rodwell 1993, 73); No further details. [Identification WJR]
Blockley, K., Blockley, M., Blockley, P., Frere, S.S. and Stow, S. 1995. Excavations in the Marlowe Car Park and Surrounding Areas, Archaeology of Canterbury 5, Canterbury Archaeological Trust, Canterbury.
Bird, J. 1995b. The samian and other imported red-slipped fine wares, in K. Blockley et al. Excavations in the Marlowe Car Park and Surrounding Areas, Archaeology of Canterbury 5, Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 772-97.
A Drag. 37 of Antonine date was recovered (Bird 1995b, 795, Fig. 343A, No. 701). [Identification JB].