FOOD AND DRINK SERVING CONTAINER

This is a group of nine sherds of ceramic, of which six are samian ware (also called terra sigillata). Samian pottery is a mould-made, glossy red, mass-produced, fine tableware. It was first manufactured in northern Italy at the end of the 1st century BC, however by AD 43 production had moved to Gaul (France). The production of samian ware ended around AD 260.

The following interpretation is based on the photographs associated with this record. An examination of the fabric and surviving decorative elements may provide further information on the region of manufacture or production centre and the identity of the potter, which can indicate a more accurate date of production.

Images 1 & 4:

A sherd of the base of a samian vessel, form unknown. The easily legible name-stamp is that of Advocisus who worked at Lezoux (Central Gaul) c. AD 160 to AD 200.

Images 2 & 5:

Three decorated samian sherds that all appear to be from form 37 bowls and are suspected to be from Central Gaul. All three have surviving decorative elements.

Image 3:

This smaller samian base sherd was probably part of a cup form. Interestingly, it has been observed that samian cup forms are very strongly represented in the Essex region, especially at rural sites, to a degree not seen elsewhere (Willis 2004).

Image 5 (top right):

The form of this non-samian sherd suggests that it is of 1st or earlier 2nd century AD date.

Images 6 & 8:

This is a Roman jug rim that was probably made in Britain.

Image 7:

This is the rim of an imported Roman amphora. Amphora are a type of wheel-thrown container used for the transport and storage of liquids and dry products. As an inexpensive container for the transport of goods, they were broken up and discarded at their destination rather than being reused.