ROMAN POTTERY AT SALTFLEETBY
The late Roger and Joan Chapman lived and farmed land in Saltfleetby for most of their working lives. During the 1960’s, encouraged by the government of the day to drain and plough old pasture land, Roger would often find old pieces of Roman pottery as he carried out this task. Some of these pieces were taken to Lincoln and placed in the archives there. Last year, 2003, it was decided to put the land into a “ Wetland Stewardship Scheme”, and this scheme involved the digging of shallow ponds. Having the large machinery on site to carry out the work it seemed a good opportunity to do some extensive digging with the hope of finding more pottery. This was done, and the results are summarized on the following pages, and make fascinating reading;
First the Full Report from; - Barbara Precious - Late Iron Age and Roman Pottery Consultant; - 21/07/03 An Overview of the Roman pottery from Saltfleetby, St Peters The pottery was excavated from the field in Saltfleetby. It came from a midden deposited in an inlet or creek that also produced a large amount of oyster shells and a moderate amount of animal bone, but no substantial building material. The pottery was not excavated by the usual archaeological methods; nevertheless it forms an important assemblage for this part of Lincolnshire, which is virtually devoid of large collections of Roman pottery.
It was not possible to count or examine in detail the main pottery collection. A broad estimate suggests that it is large, over 200 sherds and, although there are no whole pots, the large size of the majority of the sherds and very little abrasion suggests that it is a primary rubbish deposit. There is only one sherd burnt over the broken edge, the amphora that indicates minor destruction. A small group of pottery that is representative of the whole assemblage has been examined in detail and consists of 45 sherds weighing 3000 grams, including 2 post-Roman fragments.
The presence of a wine amphora in both the main and control groups imported from Southern France, together with fine samian ware, from two sources in Central France is indicative of a high status rather than a rural assemblage. Perhaps more unusual are several sherds from wheel-made, black-burnished ware (BB2) undecorated shallow bowls and carinated bowls from a possible source in Northern France that, together with the imported wares, is indicative of coastal trade.
The earliest sherds from the site are fragments of samian ware from the Les Martres de Veyre kilns in Central France that were supplying Roman Britain for a brief period from 100-120 AD. The remaining saurian is Central Gaulish and dates from c 120-180 AD. This group includes a shallow dish, Dragendorff 79, which can be more closely dated to 160-180 AD. However, the bulk of the coarse, mainly cooking, wares date from the later 2nd to the early 3rd century (160-225 AD). The latest wares, including a flanged bowl with white painted decoration from the Swanpool kilns in Lincoln, date form the later 3rd to the 4th century (270-400 AD).
This is clearly an assemblage of a high status site, or a site where coastal trade was taking place, as suggested by the imported and traded Roman British wares. The coarse cooking wares are mainly grey ware products of local kilns, including shell-tempered Dales ware from North Lincolnshire. Many of these wares have sooting on the exterior showing their use as cooking pots. At least two examples, a beaker sherd and a finely rouletted `castor' box lid came from the Nene Valley kilns near Peterborough.
The Recommendations of Barbara Precious; It is understood that the collection will go to the Louth Museum as it is of local importance. This is certainly so, but I would suggest that because of the evidence for high status, coastal trade and rarity in this part of Lincolnshire that the group should be quantified according to the Museum of Lincoln guidelines and thus be compatible to, and form a valuable addition to the Lincoln database of Roman pottery. The samian group includes a fine decorated Dragendorff 30 with ovolo, and a plate with a fragment of a potters' stamp- R [. A specialist who could identify the potter and provide good external dating for the groups should examine both these vessels. The pottery should be photographed in a controlled manner to show the range of wares from the site. Several of the vessels are full profiles, worthy of display, and others should be drawn either to illustrate the dating or function of the assemblage, or for intrinsic value. Several of the vessels have sooting on the exterior, great care should be taken not to disturb this evidence, and dry brushing is recommended rather than washing. The pottery is stable and does not require further conservation; it should be retained for further research and not dispersed.
Now read on for a more informal report from Stuart Sizer, Complete with Photos!
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