Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 November 2011
In October 1970 the South Oxfordshire Hunt was crossing a field on Little Baldon Farm when one of their number observed some sherds lying on the newly ploughed surface. One of the first pieces to be recovered was a fine example of a moulded face from the neck of a flagon (No. I, below). Further investigation revealed much Romano-British pottery turned up by deep ploughing, and M. Aston and C. Young reported: ‘Fragments of mortaria, red colourcoated pottery and kiln debris indicate the site of workshops and perhaps 8 or 9 kilns.’ The site is in Toot Baldon parish, Oxfordshire, and towards the southern end of the Oxford potteries.
1 Oxford Mail, 2 Feb. 1971.
2 I am most grateful to Mr. Ray Hodgkins for bringing this piece to my attention. Dr. Martin Henig has given continuous help in the preparation of this paper; I have also benefited from the assistance of Mr. R. Kraty, Dr. R. M. Reece, Professor J. M. C. Toynbee and Mr. C. Young.
3 Oxoniensia xxxv (1970), Notes and News, 103.Google Scholar
4 National Grid Reference: SU 562977. For the potteries, see C. Young, in C.B.A. Research Report No. 10 (ed. A. Detsicas, 1973).
5 Hassall, M. W. C., Oxoniensia xvii/xviii (1952–1953), 231–4, pl. XXI.Google Scholar
6 Information from Mr. C. Young.
7 J. M. C. Toynbee, Art in Britain Under the Romans (1964), 406–7. As an addition to the continental parallels there mentioned see Raimbault, M., Gallia xxxi (1973), fasc. I, 185 ff. (forme XII).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8 One from Burgh Castle (Norfolk Arch, iii (1852), 415Google Scholar and pl.; Proc. Suffolk Inst. Arch. xxiv (1947), 116, fig. 7, No. 1) and another from Colchester (M. R. Hull, Roman Potters Kilns of Colchester (1963), 11, fig. 7) are exceptional.Google Scholar
9 Meischner, Juta, Das Frauenporträt der Severerzeit (Berlin 1964), pls. 36, 65 and 91.Google Scholar
10 Cf. a pipeclay head from London in the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (Acc. No. 48. 1020). Professor Toynbee cites a Trajanic statuette from Spain in Pidal, R. M., Historia de Espana (Madrid 1935) opp. p. 496.Google Scholar
11 Dr. M. Henig cites parallels for the central ornament in sculptures; e.g. B.M. 125016 (2nd cent. A.D. Palmyrene woman) and J. Inan and E. Rosenbaum, Roman and Early Byzantine Portrait Sculpture in Asia Minor (1966), Nos. 179 and 266 (a youth). An actual setting of this type is illustrated in F. H. Marshall, Catalogue of Jewellery … in British Museum (1911), No. 2866, pl. LXVI; cf. also R. A. Higgins, Greek and Roman Jewellery (1961), Col. pl. D.
12 A. Ross, Pagan Celtic Britain (1967), 102–4.
13 Ross, op. cit., 99–102. E.g. from York, RCHM, Eboracum, 114, pl. 39.Google Scholar
14 Acc. No. 3013, Catalogue (1908) 91, R. xi. 314.
15 Richborough iv (1949), 268; pl. XCII, No. 462.Google Scholar
16 Brodribb, A. C., Hands, A. R. and Walker, D. R., Excavations at Shakenoak, iv (1973), p. 88, fig. 44, No. 794.Google Scholar
17 Acc. No. 1948.224.
18 Not published.
19 Acc. Nos. B1341 and C211.
20 Salzman, L., Sussex Arch. Coll. lii (1919), 93Google Scholar, pl. 8 and Arch. Journ. lxv (1908), pl. IV opposite p. 132.Google Scholar
21 Information from Mr. Martin Millett. For the site, see p. 213–16.