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Colchester Archaeological Report 10
Roman pottery from excavations in Colchester, 1971-86 presents the results of the substantial Roman pottery project undertaken between 1978 and 1980. The report was written and compiled by Robin P Symonds and Sue Wade who ran the project. It was subsequently edited by Paul Bidwell and Alexandra Croom. The report deals with the Roman pottery from all the excavations carried out in Colchester between 1971 and 1986 by the Colchester Archaeological Trust. The report is intended as a work of reference and a basis for future research into Roman pottery in Colchester.
Over 5,000 pieces of pottery (excluding samian) are catalogued and illustrated according to a new classification system based on form by fabric. In the chapter on samian, over 1,250 sherds of decorated samian are described, of which about a quarter are illustrated (as rubbings). The samian chapter also includes a lengthy section on stamps. There are chapters on amphorae, mortaria, and coarse and fine wares, with particular emphasis on Colchester products. The book includes an update by Paul Bidwell and Alexandra Croom of the original Camulodunum form series developed by M R Hull. For reasons of space, the updated form series does not have its own set of illustrations. The book concludes with a survey by Paul Bidwell on pottery and supply in Colchester.
The publication includes a CD ROM with an interrogatable database of site contexts and phasing, about 100 tables which support the catalogues, a contribution by Mark Hassall on graffiti, and the complete text of the book to allow readers to search its contents in detail, particularly for specific contexts.
Contributors include: Joanna Bird (decorated Central and East Gaulish samian), G B Dannell (decorated South Gaulish samian), Brenda Dickinson (samian stamps), Professor P P A Funari (Dressel 20 amphorae), K F Hartley (stamped mortaria), and V Rigby (Gallo-Belgic stamps).
Publication of the report was made possible by a generous grant from English Heritage.