Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T04:54:52.016Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Two Rare Late Samian Vessels from Southern England

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 June 2015

Joanna Bird*
Affiliation:
14 Kings Road, [email protected]

Abstract

This paper considers two vessels, one found at Silchester in Hampshire, the other at Flexford, near Guildford in Surrey. Both are products of the samian workshops at Rheinzabern and both owe their design to metal prototypes. Neither has any apparent known parallel for its combination of form and decoration and both are a valuable reminder that even in such a large enterprise as the samian potteries individual forms could be made, perhaps in response to a specific request or as experiments by the potters. They also form an important contribution to our knowledge of late samian ware in Britain and add to previous evidence for the use of samian in ritual contexts.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2015. Published by The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ainsworth, C.J., and Ratcliffe-Densham, H.B.A. 1974: ‘Spectroscopy and a Roman cremation from Sompting, Sussex’, Britannia 5, 310–16CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Behn, F. 1910: Römische Keramik mit Einschluss der hellenistischen Vorstufen, Kataloge des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums Mainz 2, MainzGoogle Scholar
Bernhard, H. 1987: ‘Die spätantike Höhensiedlung “Großer Berg” bei Kindsbach, Kreis Kaiserslautern. Ein Vorbericht zu den Grabungen 1985–1987’, Mitteilungen des Historisches Verein der Pfalz 85, 3777Google Scholar
Bernhard, H. 1990: ‘Rheinzabern GER’, in Cüppers, H. (ed.), Die Römer in Rheinland-Pfalz, Stuttgart, 533–9Google Scholar
Bet, P., and Delor, A. 2000: ‘La typologie de la sigillée lisse de Lezoux et de la Gaule Centrale du Haut-Empire: révision décennale’, Actes du Congrès de Libourne, 1–4 juin 2000, Société Française d’Étude de la Céramique Antique en Gaule, Marseille, 461–84Google Scholar
Bird, J. 1986: ‘Samian wares’, in Miller, L., Schofield, J. and Rhodes, M., 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 8, London, 139–85Google Scholar
Bird, J. 1993: ‘3rd-century samian ware in Britain’, Journal of Roman Pottery Studies 6, 114Google Scholar
Bird, J. 1998: ‘A decorated samian dish from the London waterfront’, in Bird, J. (ed.), Form and Fabric: Studies in Rome's Material Past in Honour of B R Hartley, Oxbow Monograph 80, Oxford, 151–6Google Scholar
Bird, J. 2004: ‘Incense in Mithraic ritual: the evidence of the finds’, in Martens and De Boe 2004, 191–9Google Scholar
Bird, J. 2006: ‘Catalogue of the samian ware; discussion’, in Biddulph, E., The Roman Pottery from Pepper Hill, Southfleet, Kent (ARC PHL97, ARC NBR98), Channel Tunnel Rail Link Specialist Report Series, <http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-335-1/dissemination/pdf/PT2_Spec_Reps/01_Ceramics/CER_research_reports/CER_RomanPot/CER_RomanPot_Text/CER_ROM_PHL_text.pdf?CFID=45&CFTOKEN=454ECBCD-4089-404A-BD2E40E91FF417B6>, 58–74 (Accessed summer 2011),+58–74+(Accessed+summer+2011)>Google Scholar
Bird, J. 2009: ‘A late samian jug from Cottington Road mixed-rite cemetery’, in Andrews, P., Dinwiddy, K.E., Ellis, C., Hutcheson, A., Phillpotts, C., Powell, A.B. and Schuster, J. (eds), Kentish Sites and Sites of Kent. A Miscellany of Four Archaeological Excavations, Wessex Archaeology Report 24, Salisbury, 115–16Google Scholar
Bird, J. 2011: ‘The samian’, in Douglas, A., Gerrard, J. and Sudds, B., A Roman Settlement and Bath House at Shadwell. Excavations at Tobacco Dock and Babe Ruth Restaurant, The Highway, London, Pre-Construct Archaeology Monograph 12/Shadwell Excavations 1, London, 71–4Google Scholar
Bird, J. 2013: ‘Samian in religious and funerary contexts: a question of choice’, in Fulford, M. and Durham, E. (eds), Seeing Red. New Economic and Social Perspectives on Gallo-Roman Terra Sigillata, Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies Supplement 102–10, London, 326–9Google Scholar
Bird, J. 2014: ‘Two late Rheinzabern vessels from Roman Britain’, in Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum (ed.), Honesta Missione – Festschrift für Barbara Pferdehirt, Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz Monographie 100, 417–25Google Scholar
Boon, G.C. 1974: Silchester: the Roman Town of Silchester, Newton AbbotGoogle Scholar
Booth, P. 2012: ‘Roman Britain in 2011: southern counties’, Britannia 43, 341–54Google Scholar
Booth, P. 2013: ‘Roman Britain in 2012: southern counties’, Britannia 44, 335–43Google Scholar
Charleston, R.J. 1955: Roman Pottery, LondonGoogle Scholar
Déchelette, J. 1904: Les vases céramiques ornés de la Gaule romaine (Narbonnaise, Aquitaine et Lyonnaise) (2 vols), ParisGoogle Scholar
Fabricius, E., Hettner, F., and von Sarwey, O. (eds) 1914: Der obergermanisch-raetische Limes des Römerreiches, Abteilung B, 3, HeidelbergGoogle Scholar
Forrer, R. 1915: Das Mithra-Heiligtum von Königshofen bei Strassburg, StuttgartGoogle Scholar
Fulford, M., Clarke, A., and Eckardt, H. 2006: Life and Labour in Late Roman Silchester: Excavations in Insula IX since 1997, Britannia Monograph 22, LondonGoogle Scholar
Garbsch, J. 1982: Terra Sigillata. Ein Weltreich im Spiegel seines Luxusgeschirrs, MunichGoogle Scholar
Garbsch, J. 1985: ‘Das Mithraeum von Pons Aeni’, Bayerische Vorgeschichtsblätter 50, 355462Google Scholar
Goldmann, T. 1899: ‘Einleitende Bemerkungen über die Bedeutung des Mithrasdienstes. Das erste Mithraeum in Friedberg. Ein zweites Mithraeum’, Archiv für hessische Geschichte und Altertumskunde, neue Folge 2, 288–318Google Scholar
Gordon, R. 2004: ‘Small and miniature reproductions of the Mithraic icon’, in Martens and De Boe 2004, 259–83Google Scholar
Haalebos, J.K. 1995: Castra und Canabae. Ausgrabungen auf dem Hunerberg in Nijmegen 1987–1994, Libelli Noviomagenses 3, NijmegenGoogle Scholar
Hayes, J.W. 1972: Late Roman Pottery, LondonGoogle Scholar
Hermet, F. 1934: La Graufesenque (Condatomago): I. Vases sigillées, II. Graffites, ParisGoogle Scholar
Hirte, H. 1984: Untersuchungen zur barbotineverzierten Terra Sigillata in Rheinzabern, unpub. MA thesis, Department of Classical Archaeology, University of MannheimGoogle Scholar
Huld-Zetsche, I. 2004: ‘Der Mainzer Krater mit den sieben Figuren’, in Martens and De Boe 2004, 213–27Google Scholar
Karnitsch, P. 1960: Die Sigillata von Veldidena, Archäologische Forschungen in Tirol 1, InnsbruckGoogle Scholar
Korn, S. 1998: Funde aus dem Mithräum von Friedberg im Lichte der neueren Forschung, unpub. MA thesis, Institute for Classical Archaeology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am MainGoogle Scholar
Lauxerois, R., and Vernhet, A. 1977: ‘Patères à manche ornés en céramique de La Graufesenque’, Figlina 2, Documents du Laboratoire de Céramologie de Lyon/Publications de la Société Française d’Étude de la Céramique Antique en Gaule, Lyon, 1317Google Scholar
Ludowici, W. 1905: Stempel-Bilder römischer Töpfer aus meinen Ausgrabungen in Rheinzabern 1901–1905 nebst dem II Teil der Stempelnamen [Katalog II], MunichGoogle Scholar
Ludowici, W. 1912: Römische Ziegelgräber. Katalog IV meiner Ausgrabungen in Rheinzabern 1908–1912: Stempelnamen, Stempelbilder, Urnengräber, MunichGoogle Scholar
Ludowici, W. 1927: Katalog V: Stempelnamen und Bilder römischer Töpfer, Legionsziegelstempel, Formen von Sigillata und anderen Gefässen aus meinen Ausgrabungen in Rheinzabern 1901–1914, MunichGoogle Scholar
Mariacher, G. 1970: Glass from Antiquity to the Renaissance, LondonGoogle Scholar
Martens, M., and De Boe, G. (eds) 2004: Roman Mithraism: the Evidence of the Small Finds, Archeologie in Vlaanderen Monografie 4, BrusselsGoogle Scholar
Martin-Kilcher, S. 1999: ‘Eine Silberplatte aus Augst-Kastelen und späte Rheinzaberner Sigillaten’, Jahresberichte aus Augst und Kaiseraugst 20, 181206Google Scholar
May, T. 1916: The Pottery Found at Silchester, ReadingGoogle Scholar
Mayet, F. 1984: Les Céramiques sigillées hispaniques. Contribution à l'histoire economique de la Péninsule Ibérique sous l'Empire Romain, Publications du Centre Pierre Paris 12/Collection de la Maison des Pays Ibériques 21 (2 vols), ParisGoogle Scholar
Mills, J. 2009: ‘The samian pottery’, in Birbeck, V. and Schuster, J., Living and Working in Roman and Later London. Excavations at 60–63 Fenchurch Street, Wessex Archaeological Report 25, Salisbury, 6173Google Scholar
NOTS = Hartley, B.R., and Dickinson, B.M. 2008–2012: Names on Terra Sigillata: an Index of Makers’ Stamps and Signatures on Gallo-Roman Terra Sigillata (Samian Ware), Volumes 1–9, Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies Supplement 102-01–102-9, LondonGoogle Scholar
Oswald, F., and Pryce, T. Davies 1920: An Introduction to the Study of Terra Sigillata, Treated from a Chronological Standpoint, LondonGoogle Scholar
Pastor, L. 2009: ‘La céramique sigillée lisse: des formes très diverses’, in Kern, E., Oswald, G. and Pastor, L. (eds), De terra sigillata. Histoire de la céramique sigillée et des potiers gallo-romains de Dinsheim-Heiligenberg, Collection ‘Histoire & Patrimoine’ 2, Molsheim, 6873Google Scholar
Poppelreuter, J. 1906: ‘Die römischer Gräber Kölns’, Bonner Jahrbücher 114/115, 344–78Google Scholar
Reutti, F. 1983: ‘Tonverarbeitende Industrie im römischen Rheinzabern’, Germania 61, 3369Google Scholar
Roller, O. 1965: Die römischen Terra-Sigillata-Töpfereien von Rheinzabern, Kleine Schriften zur Kenntnis der römischen Besetzungsgeschichte Südwestdeutschlands, Limes-Museum Aalen, AalenGoogle Scholar
Rupp, V. 1987: Wetterauer Ware – eine römische Keramik im Rhein-Main-Gebiet, Schriften des Frankfurter Museums für Vor- und Frühgeschichte 10, Frankfurt am MainGoogle Scholar
Rütti, B. 1991: Die römischen Gläser aus Augst und Kaiseraugst, Forschungen in Augst 13/1–2 (2 vols), AugstGoogle Scholar
Schulz, R., and Schellenberger, W. 1996: Museumskatalog: Terra Sigillata in Rheinzabern, Terra-Sigillata-Museum, RheinzabernGoogle Scholar
Stanfield, J.A. 1929: ‘Unusual forms of terra sigillata’, Archaeological Journal 86, 113–51CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strong, D.E. 1966: Greek and Roman Gold and Silver Plate, LondonGoogle Scholar
Tassinari, S. 1975: La Vaiselle de bronze, romaine et provinciale, au Musée des Antiquités Nationales, Gallia Supplement 29, ParisGoogle Scholar
Thomas, M. 2002: Barbotine: die Kunst der Tonschlamm-Malerei in Rheinzabern, Terra-Sigillata-Museum, RheinzabernGoogle Scholar
Thomas, M. 2004: ‘Kultgefässe in Terra Sigillata aus Rheinzabern’, in Martens and De Boe 2004, 201–12Google Scholar
Ventura, P. 2012: ‘Materiale ceramica da recente scavi presso la villa di Torre di Pordenone (Provincia di Pordenone, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italia)’, Rei Cretariae Romanae Fautorum Acta 42, 249–58Google Scholar
Vermaseren, M.J. 1956/1960: Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae (2 vols), The HagueCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walters, H.B. 1908: Catalogue of the Roman Pottery in the Department of Antiquities, British Museum, LondonGoogle Scholar
Walters, V.J. 1974: The Cult of Mithras in the Roman Provinces of Gaul, Études Préliminaires aux Religions Orientales dans l'Empire Romain 41, LeydenCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wamser, L. (ed.) 2000: Die Römer zwischen Alpen und Nordmeer, MainzGoogle Scholar
Weidner, M.K.N. 2009: Matrizen und Patrizen aus den römischen Trier, Trierer Zeitschrift Beiheft 32, TrierCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wigand, K. 1912: ‘Thymiateria’, Bonner Jahrbuch 122, 197Google Scholar