J Roman Pottery Stud 11

Document aimed at addressing the need for clearly defined academic objectives in the field of Roman pottery studies. The paper outlines the present position of Roman pottery studies in Britain and substantive priorities for research in the immediate future. Its aim is to assist members of the Study Group and others in preparing their own research documents, and also to assist the integration of pottery research with other domains of Roman studies, addressing both ceramic questions and issues of broad relevance.

Study based on a number of Roman pottery assemblages from sites in the Oxford region, mainly in the Upper Thames Valley, following methods of comparative assessment outlined in an earlier study by the same author of pottery from a number of sites in Warwickshire. The aim was to rank assemblages in a sequence that reflected at least in part the relative socio-economic status of the sites concerned. The distinction between assemblages was assessed on the basis of the proportion of each assemblage constituted by `fine and specialist' wares, the fundamental premise being that `higher-status' assemblages would have a higher proportion of these. Principal distorting factors affecting assemblage composition included chronology and proximity to sources of supply, and allowance was made for these. Chronological patterns of regional pottery supply, early Roman assemblages, later Roman assemblages and amphorae are each considered before conclusions are discussed.

Update on work reported by P M Booth and S Green in `The nature and distribution of certain pink, grog tempered vessels' in J Roman Pottery Stud 2 (1989), pp 77-84. The present article aims to add detail to the maps produced in the earlier article, and to discuss possible reasons for the patterns observed. Includes

Report on investigations of a pottery-manufacturing site revealed during advance work on the development of a golf course. The site is just under 1km to the west of the Roman civilian settlement at Bulmore and 2km from Caerleon, close to the main Roman road between Caerleon and Usk as well as the probable course of the road between Caerleon and Caerwent. Features discovered included a kiln and at least three cist burials of the Roman period. A dense scatter of pottery was uncovered, much of it comprising poorly-fired mortaria and other products typical of Caerleon Ware. Specialist reports include

The paper considers how archaeologists are building on the research of Graham Webster and of Philip Barker at Wroxeter, and how recent developments are, or could, contribute. It aims to show that Wroxeter continues to have ``a tremendous potential for extended archaeological research and training and as a monument to be displayed and interpreted to the public'', and that pottery studies have a fundamental role in future research at Wroxeter.

Sixth of a series; entries are arranged alphabetically by county and within counties, with separate sections for Scotland, North and South Wales; also for books, journals, reviews, scientific analysis, foreign publications and theses. Includes a list of abbreviations and an index of wares to entries.