Table 35: Percentages of Decorated Vessels amongst Samian Assemblages at Various Site Types, by Stratified / Dated Group (quantification by number of vessels represented)


Site / ExcavationDate Range of GroupPercentage of Samian
that is Decorated
Group Size
(ie. number of vessels
identified to form)
County / District
Military Sites
Fishbourne, 1961-9, Period 1 c AD 37/43-75

13.7

264

West Sussex
Longthorpe I, 1967-73 c AD 44-62

24.7

97

Cambridgeshire
Cirencester, Admiral's Walk, 1973, DMI & DKI & II, Phases I and II c AD 45-70

9.5

42

Gloucestershire
Metchley forts, 1963-97, Areas 1-4c AD 46/47-70/75

31.2

112

Birmingham
Kingsholm, Kingsholm Close 1972, Periods 1-3 c AD 49-67

14.3

105

Gloucestershire
Wall fort, 1968-72, Period 1 c AD 54-65

15.0

60

Staffordshire
Brandon Camp fort, 1981-5 c AD 55-65

34.8

46

Herefordshire
Exeter fortress c AD 55/60-75

29.1

247

Devon
Tiverton fort, 1981-6 c AD 65-83

49.5

95

Devon
Alcester, Baromix site 1969, Phase A c AD 65-85

26.9

52

Warwickshire
Wall fort, 1968-72, Period 2 c AD 69-76

36.5

74

Staffordshire
Hayton fort, 1975 c AD 70-80

24.4

32

East Yorkshire
Castleford fort, 1977-84, Phase I (1) c AD 73-86

30.1

521

West Yorkshire
Corbridge, Red House, 1974 c AD 75-95

27.1

70

Northumberland
Wall fort, 1968-72, Period 3 c AD 77-85/90

33.3

36

Staffordshire
Segontium fort, 1975-9, Periods 2-5 c AD 78-105

22.0

100

Gwynedd
Corbridge, Red House, Bath House 1956-7 c AD 79-90

18.5

27

Northumberland
Strageath fort, 1973-86, Flavian phase c AD 83-87

42.0

131

Perthshire
Alcester, Baromix site 1969, Phases B and C c AD 85-125

23.7

38

Warwickshire
Wall, 1968-72, Period 4 c AD 100-118

33.3

102

Staffordshire
Segontium fort, 1975-9, Period 5a (2) c AD 106-122

34.8

46

Gwynedd
Birdoswald fort, 1987-92, Analytical Group 1 c AD 125/130-140

25.0

32

Cumbria
Birdoswald fort, the Spur, the Vallum fills, Phase 1 c AD 125/130-150/160

58.8

34

Cumbria
Birdoswald fort, Field Study Centre, 1997-8, Phases 1-7 c AD 125/130-280/320

48.3

58

Cumbria
Bar Hill fort, 1902-5 c AD 142/143-163

29.1

223

Dunbartonshire
Strageath fort, 1973-86, Antonine phases c AD 142/143-163

33.0

115

Perthshire
Dover fort, A20 Bypass, etc., 1970-7, Period 2 c AD 163-180

42.1

19

Kent
Birdoswald fort, the Spur, middle fort ditch fills, Phase 3 c AD 165-240

52.9

17

Cumbria
Dover fort, A20 Bypass, etc., 1970-7, Period 3 c AD 190-208

26.7

60

Kent
South Shields fort, main Principia area, 1983-6, Period 5 construction c AD 205-235

21.0

19

Tyne & Wear
Extra-Mural Occupation at Military Sites
Colchester, Sheepen 1970, Period 3 c AD 44-48

19.0

26

Essex
Alcester, Explosion site 1976-7, Phase 1 c AD 70-80/85

16.7

24

Warwickshire
Castleford vicus, 1977-84, Phase I (3) c AD 73-86

36.9

122

West Yorkshire
Alcester, Explosion site 1976-7, Phase 2 c AD 80/85-125/140

17.8

45

Warwickshire
Melandra vicus, 1966-9, 'stream deposit' c AD 83-125

45.6

46

Derbyshire
Carlisle, Blackfriars St, 1977-9, Building 1 Period 3 c AD 85/95-105/115

35.0

40

Cumbria
Carlisle, Blackfriars St, 1977-9, Building 2 Period 3 c AD 85/95-105/115

45.4

44

Cumbria
Rocester, Old Shops, Mill Street, 2000, Phase 2 c AD 95-130

39.5

86

Staffordshire
Caerleon, Cambria House, Building 1, 1988, Phases 2-5 c AD 125-155

45.4

33

Gwent
Chester, 11-15 Castle St, 1976-8, well II (8) primary silt c AD 128-180

49.0

51

Cheshire
Catterick, Bainesse, Site 46, 1981-2, Phase 4 c AD 138-150

36.8

19

North Yorkshire
Carlisle, Blackfriars St, 1977-9, Building 2 Period 8 b-j c AD 150/175-200/220

51.8

54

Cumbria
Catterick, Bridge, Site 240, 1971-83, Phases 1-3/4 (4) c AD 170-300

31.8

22

North Yorkshire
Brancaster, West Vicus, 1974 and 1977 c AD 170-300/400

12.8

500

Norfolk
Catterick, Bainesse, Site 46, 1981-2, Phase 6 c AD 170/180-200

45.9

244

North Yorkshire
Major Civil Centres
Silchester, Rampart Sect. 1974, Group 1.1 & 'SW Angle' 1978, Group 1.2 c AD 30/35-70/75

25.9

27

Hampshire
Colchester, Sheepen 1970, Period 4 c AD 49-60

16.0

50

Essex
Southwark, Bonded Warehouse, BII-5, the SE gravel quarry c AD 50-70

20.8

48

Middlesex
Verulamium, Insula XVII, 1956-7, early Neronian building c AD 56-60

20.1

159

Hertfordshire
Colchester, North Hill, 1965 c AD 60-61

21.9

32

Essex
London, the site of the Forum 1968-9 c AD 60-100

22.7

128

Middlesex
Verulamium, Insula XIV, Period IIA a, "Pre-building activity", likely well c AD 61-78

57.1

84

Hertfordshire
Verulamium, Insula XXII, 1955, roadside ditch on street xxi/xxii c AD 65-90

27.8

18

Hertfordshire
Silchester, Manor Farm, 1980, Analytical Group 2.8 c AD 68-100

28.6

28

Hampshire
Cirencester, Admiral's Walk, DMI pits 145/152/154 & 137/158 (5) c AD 70-80/100

25.3

75

Gloucestershire
Southwark, Bonded Warehouse, BIII-1, contexts 24-30 c AD 70-90

26.0

50

Middlesex
Southwark, 106-114 Borough High St, 1973-4, building 2 c AD 70-100

10.5

19

Middlesex
Southwark, Bonded Warehouse, BIII-2a, contexts 36 & 37 c AD 70-100

28.6

21

Middlesex
Silchester, 'South West Angle' 1978, Analytical Group 2.1 c AD 70/80-120/130

14.8

27

Hampshire
Lincoln, 181-3 High St, 1972, Period 2 c AD 75-105

36.5

85

Lincolnshire
Verulamium, Insula XVII, 1956-7, Flavian building c AD 77-105

23.1

91

Hertfordshire
Dorchester, Prison, 1975, pits 1 & 2; 1978 pit 1 c AD 90-100

44.0

25

Dorset
Southwark, 201-11 Borough High St, BIII-3, well 1, contexts 96-98 c AD 100-130

25.0

41

Middlesex
Southwark, 201-11 Borough High St, BIII-3, pit 3, contexts 91-95 c AD 100-130

34.3

35

Middlesex
Southwark, 93-95 Borough High St, BII, layer 27 c AD 120-130

31.4

35

Middlesex
Silchester, 'South West Angle' 1978, Analytical Groups 2.2 and 2.3 c AD 120/130-200

23.1

26

Hampshire
Verulamium, Insula XIV, building XIV 3B, Period 2 c AD 130-145/150

20.6

34

Hertfordshire
Verulamium, Insula XIV, building, Period IIC, Trench B IV c AD 130-150

28.1

171

Hertfordshire
Exeter, The Valiant Soldier, 1973-4, well VS 606 c AD 140-165

28.0

50

Devon
Verulamium, Insula XXI, building 21 1A c AD 145-180/190

25.0

20

Hertfordshire
Exeter, Rack St, 1975 group C; 1977 group D c AD 150-180

41.5

118

Devon
Southwark, 1-7 St Thomas St, 1974, Features F28 & F29 (6) c AD 160-200

15.4

26

Middlesex
Dorchester, South Grove Cottage, 1972, Upper Rampart, 13, 15, 16 & 45 c AD 165-225

16.7

18

Dorset
Sites with agrarian character by Major Civil Centres
Canterbury, Rosemary Lane Car Park 1976-7, 'Pre-Flavian' Period (7) c AD 50-70

9.7

124

Kent
Canterbury, Marlowe Car Park, Period 2 c AD 70-110

9.3

43

Kent
Small Towns, Roadside Settlements, smaller nucleated centres
Ariconium, Field HWCM 21376 Systematic fieldwalking 1986 c AD 40-200+

14.3

21

Herefordshire
Ariconium, Field HWCM 21376 'Systematic' fieldwalking c. 1963 c AD 40-225+

13.8

44

Herefordshire
Heybridge, Elms Farm, Ceramic Phase 4, Key Groups & Pool Groups c AD 55-80

18.7

16

Essex
Heybridge, Elms Farm, Ceramic Phase 5, Key Groups c AD 80-125

20.0

25

Essex
Castor, Normangate Field, area 14, pit fill layers 7-9 c AD 110-160

25.0

16

Cambridgeshire
Heybridge, Elms Farm, Ceramic Phase 6, Key Groups c AD 125-170

16.3

49

Essex
Alchester, A41 dualling, 1991, Period 5 (8) c AD 140-180/190

14.3

21

Oxfordshire
Kenchester, 1977-9, Period 2c, building AJ c AD 140/150-180/200

20.7

29

Herefordshire
Neatham, 1969-79, Ditch 2, Pits 8, 11 & 20 and Well 4 c AD 150-235

14.3

21

Hampshire
Alcester, Baromix site 1972/2, Phase F c AD 150/160-250/270

11.9

67

Warwickshire
Towcester, Alchester Road, Phase 2 c AD 170-270

12.9

116

Northants
Alchester, A41 dualling, 1991, B, Period 6 (8) c AD 180/190-240/250

22.8

70

Oxfordshire
Neatham, 1969-79, Pits 5, 12 & 17 and Well 3 c AD 200-265

8.3

12

Hampshire
Catterick, Bainesse, Site 46, 1981-2, Phase 7 c AD 200-275

30.0

203

North Yorkshire
Heybridge, Elms Farm, Ceramic Phase 8, Key Groups c AD 210-260

10.0

20

Essex
Religious / Ritual Sites with military association
Rocester, Orton's Pasture, 1990/1995-6, Ditch fills, Phase 1 c AD 85-120

43.7

80

Staffordshire
Rocester, Orton's Pasture, 1990/1995-6, Pit fills, Phase 1 c AD 90-135

45.4

33

Staffordshire
Rocester, Orton's Pasture, 1990/1995-6, Pits/wells F602, 603, 60 c AD 120-150

40.0

30

Staffordshire
Industrial
Droitwich, Old Bowling Green, 1977-9, Phase 5, brine pit /struct. 1 c AD 115-145

39.1

23

Worcestershire
Droitwich, Old Bowling Green, 1977-9, Phase 5, brine tanks, etc. c AD 130-240

21.7

23

Worcestershire
Rural Sites
Maxey, Phase 7-8 c AD 40-160

33.3

15

Cambridgeshire
Orton Hall Farm, Period 1 c AD 50-175

11.5

78

Cambridgeshire
Whitton, 1965-70, Pot Groups 57, 62, 77, 79 (9) c AD 70-130

6.7

15

S. Glamorgan
Snettisham, Bypass site, 1989, Phase 2 c AD 75-126

33.3

18

Norfolk
Maxey, Phase 8 c AD 75-200

20.9

43

Cambridgeshire
Brockworth, 1973, Periods I-IV c AD 95-160

23.4

64

Gloucestershire
Bignor, 1985, Trenches X and W, Periods I-III c AD 100-300

11.1

18

West Sussex
North Claines, Linacres Farm, 1994 (10); (11) c AD 120-260

7.3

41

Worcestershire
Milton Keynes, Woughton, area C, pit 31 c AD 140-195

19.4

31

Buckinghamshire
Winterton villa c AD 140-195

15.6

32

N. Lincolnshire
Milton Keynes, Sherwood Drive, ditch 2 c AD 175-225

27.3

11

Buckinghamshire
Orton Hall Farm, Period 2 c AD 175-225/250

22.2

18

Cambridgeshire
Snettisham, Bypass site, 1989, Phase 5 c AD 200-300

29.4

17

Norfolk
Other
Fishbourne, 1961-9, Period 2 c AD 75-100

15.7

280

West Sussex
Buchlyvie, Fairy Knowe Broch, Post-Phase 1c AD 75-100/135

36.8

19

Stirlingshire

Number of Groups forming the Sample:

Total 110 samples

For references see Table 36

Notes:

  1. The total of 521 vessels excludes 7 vessels from Central Gaul understood to be intrusive.
  2. The group comes from what is in large part demolition / destruction debris and appears to include a: "substantial residual [component that] can perhaps be compared with the assemblages at Cirencester (Wacher and McWhirr 1982, 133) ... " (King and Millett 1993, 242). See discussion of this group in the main text of this (present) report, Section 12.5.
  3. The total of 122 vessels excludes 16 vessels from Central and Eastern Gaul, understood to be intrusive.
  4. From c. AD 200 this site is thought likely to be civilian.
  5. This group is thought to have been deposited at a time after the departure of the Roman military from this site, though much of the samian pottery within the group itself is believed to relate more to the military phase than to the subsequent proto-town.
  6. F28 and F29 represent two pits, possibly a pair, with apparent structured deposits within.
  7. The sample comes from a ditch; this deposit could be related to military occupation at this time; 8 intrusive items have been removed from this calculation.
  8. This site lies by the junction of Akerman Street and the Towcester Roman road.
  9. These 4 Groups from Whitton (Webster 1981, Samian Groups 57, 62, 77 and 79) derive from various deposits within the settlement enclosure; the forms present are all in South Gaulish fabrics and comprise: Drag. 18 (9 examples), Drag. 18 or 18/31 (5) and Drag. 29 (1 vessel).
  10. The group is a site collection and so may include a proportion of unstratified samian.
  11. This is the 'maximum' date range for the stratification.