Stanfield (1929) form 67 is a small plain flagon type, with flat/disc rim, dating to the later second and third centuries. Produced at Lezoux and at the East Gaulish kilns, this is an uncommon form type. Stanfield illustrated a number of flagons (Stanfield 1929, 148, Nos. 63, 67-9), but this is the most frequently encountered type in Britain (Webster 1996, 73, Fig. 16).
This catalogue lists the occurrence of items of this form, of whichever 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 list will be a useful resource.
Ward, M. 1993. A summary of the samian ware from excavations at Piercebridge, Journal of Roman Pottery Studies 6, 15-22.
Site type: Fort and vicus.
Three examples have been recorded by Margaret Ward, all being East Gaulish (Ward 2001a, 43; pers. comm.); no further details of these particular vessels are available.
Ward notes that there were some 5543 samian vessels from these works, of which 6 were certainly flagons, while a further vessel was a flagon or a cantharus and 6 other vessels were either flagons or very large beakers; all were East Gaulish, and none had decoration represented. Information on the contexts of these items is not available (though will be traceable through the archive); of the 15 samian vessels associated with the Temple site none were flagons (pers. comm. Margaret Ward). [Identification MBW].
Wilmott, A.R. 1997. Birdoswald, English Heritage Archaeological Report 14, English Heritage, London.
Mills, J.M. 1997b. Catalogue and summary of the plain samian from the 1987-92 excavations at Birdoswald, Archive Report for English Heritage, Tullie House Museum, Carlisle.
Jo Mills records two examples of Stanfield form 67 from these works.
Dudley, C. 1981. A re-appraisal of the evidence for a Roman villa in Springfield Road, Brighton, following further discoveries on the site, Sussex Archaeological Collections 119, 68-88.
Site type: Villa, with burials.
One example of the form is known, coming, together with other pottery, from a cremation burial unearthed in 1877 (Dudley 1981; Appendix 9.1). This example of a Stanfield Form 67 had its handle missing and was truncated at the neck; the fabric is Central Gaulish Lezoux and this item is dated to the late second century, as is the grave (Dudley 1981, 76-7). [Identification CJ].
A fragmentary example of the type from this location is noted by Dudley (1981, 77).
Wickenden, N.P. 1986. Prehistoric settlement and the Romano-British 'Small Town' at Heybridge, Essex, Essex Archaeology and History 17, 7-68.
Site type: Associated with a smaller civil centre.
An example of the form came from a gravel pit opposite Bouchernes Farm. It was found before 1927. The item is East Gaulish and "3rd Century", being evidently complete. It is almost certainly from a burial, coming from the area of a cremation cemetery (Wickenden 1986, 55, Fig. 26 No. 20).
Leach, P. 1998. Great Witcombe Roman Villa, Gloucestershire. A Report on Excavations by Ernest Greenfield 1960-1973, BAR British Series 266, Archaeopress, Oxford.
Dickinson, B.M. 1998. Samian wares, in P. Leach, Great Witcombe Roman Villa, Gloucestershire. A Report on Excavations by Ernest Greenfield 1960-1973, BAR British Series 266, Archaeopress, Oxford, 62-3.
One example is reported: "Central Gaulish, Antonine" fragments reconstruct to form a reasonably complete vessel (Dickinson 1998, 63, Fig. 17 No. 172). From context C744, Area 63, E. exterior, Period 3 (c. 4th century deposit) immediately outside NE corner of villa; details of the context not published. [Identification BMD].
Oliver, M. 1992. Excavation of an Iron Age and Romano-British settlement site at Oakridge, Basingstoke, Hampshire, 1965-6, Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society 48, 55-94.
Bird, J. 1992. Samian ware, in M. Oliver, Excavation of an Iron Age and Romano-British settlement site at Oakridge, Basingstoke, Hampshire, 1965-6, Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society 48, 86-7.
Site type: Rural enclosure complex.
Two complete (and virtually undamaged) examples of Stanfield type 67 were recovered from a well, being of Antonine date (Oliver 1992; Bird 1992). They were found together with a large part of a decorated bowl with a highly unusual Bacchic scene. This deposit seems likely to represent ritually deposited items. Bird notes these vessels seem to: "indicate some votive or ritual element in the filling of the well" (1992, 86-7), there being a clear connection with drinking.
The bowl is a Drag. 37 in the style of Donnaucus of Les Martres dating to c. AD 100-125 (Bird 1992, 86).
The flasks are in Central Gaulish Lezoux samian, each with a single handle.
These samian finds came from a 'dump' near the bottom of the shaft, at c. 24m depth, this deposit dating to the late 3rd / early 4th century; they will have been c. 150 years old, upon deposition, perhaps constituting heirlooms. Dog and puppy bones also occurred at this depth, together with much butchered cow/sheep bone. Human bones from a series of individuals were found at various depths in the well fill, above the samian finds. [Identification JB].
Denford, G.T. 1992. Some exotic discoveries at Silkstead Sandpit, Otterbourne, and the possible site of an ancient temple, Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society 48, 27-54.
King, A. 1992. Iron Age and Romano-British pottery, in G.T. Denford, Some exotic discoveries at Silkstead Sandpit, Otterbourne, and the possible site of an ancient temple, Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society 48, (27-54), 48-51.
Site type: uncertain.
The finds attributed to this site were collected from the 18th century, and particularly in the 1920s, being donated to Winchester Museums Service, especially in the two decades prior to World War Two. Some are Mediterranean exotics unlikely to have arrived at a site in Hampshire in antiquity, whilst a portrait medallion is an Early Modern copy. There is a possibility that the site was 'salted' in the 18th century. King notes: "the circumstances of the discovery of the material are little known" and the various items may have been: "found at different times, and perhaps, different places ... [the collection] is effectively unstratified" (1992, 48). Activity at this location during the Romano-British period does, however, seem certain.
The collection includes a complete samian flagon of Stanfield type 67 (Fig. 21, accession 263.00.5/1).
The catalogue entry by King states: "This small vessel of globular form is possibly South Gaulish samian ware of the late first or early second century AD" (1992, 50). In fact whilst it is possible that this vessel is South Gaulish, it is more likely to be from Central Gaul. The fact that it is whole suggests that it came from a burial group or a deliberately structured deposit. It is possible that this vessel, along with the few other complete Late Iron Age / Roman pottery vessels recorded from Silkstead Sandpit, come from elsewhere, perhaps in the near vicinity (Denford 1992, 51) though Denford notes that most of these vessels are not inconsistent with a Hampshire context. It remains possible that quarrying at Silkstead destroyed a Romano-British temple (1992, 51-2).
A single vessel, now in the British Museum; this is the 'type example' (Stanfield 1929, 148, Fig. 14 No. 67; Johns 1971a, Pl. 11; Kelly 1981, 66). This vessel is complete; Diam. (max.) 8.5cm; Height 12.1cm; thought probably Central Gaulish.
Two examples are illustrated by Stanfield, both then in the Guildhall Museum (Stanfield 1929, 148, Fig. 14 Nos 68 and 69); both vessels are represented by rims only; one is thought probably Central Gaulish, the other perhaps East Gaulish on the basis of its lighter colour (Stanfield 1929, 148).
Bird, J. 1986. 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 "disc-mouth flagon" in Central Gaulish fabric amongst a total of 3044 Central Gaulish vessels identified to form, principally of mid to late Antonine date (1986, 145, Fig. 85); this item seems likely to be an example of a Stanfield 67. [Identification JB].
Oswald and Pryce note an example from York recorded by Thomas May (Oswald and Pryce 1920, Pl. 83 No. 2).
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'.
Two examples are listed, both coming from Phase F contexts, this Phase dating to c. AD 150/160-250/270.
Kelly, E. 1981. A grave group from Crabtree Lane, North Lancing, Sussex Archaeological Collections 119, 1981, 65-8.
Site type: not known, beyond burial evidence.
One example occurs, coming from a burial containing other pottery grave goods (Kelly 1981; Appendix 9.1). The group comprises finds from the 1930s, presented to Worthing Museum in 1975. This could represent a single cremation group, or possibly vessels from more than 1 burial. Calcined bone was found in an associated glass vessel.
The samian flagon present is an example of Stanfield 1929, form 67, and is identified as Central Gaulish in origin (presumably form Lezoux); it is dated as "Antonine / mid second century" (Kelly 1981, Fig. 1 No. 7). The date of the grave appears to be Antonine; the occurrence of a New Forest ware beaker with this group "is inconsistent" with such a date. [Identification CJ].