The ADS are pleased to announce the publication of a significant new digital archive of pottery type series from the South West Heritage Trust. The Somerset Pottery Fabric Type Series (SPFTS) contains pottery sherds from the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, Somerset Council and North Somerset Council museum collections. The creation of the SPFTS was funded by Historic England.
This groundbreaking resource documents nearly a millennium of Somerset’s ceramic history, providing researchers and enthusiasts with access to high-resolution images of 140 pottery fabrics dating from 950 AD to 1800. The SPFTS contains specimen sherds found within the historic county of Somerset, currently the unitary authorities of Somerset and North Somerset. The collection contains notable examples including material from the historic kilns at Donyatt and Nether Stowey.
Search the Pottery Reference Collection database online and explore:
- A total 85 medieval and 55 post-medieval pottery fabrics from across historic Somerset
- Search by a series of factors including hardness, inclusion type and fracture type
- Photographs of example fabric types
- Specific types sherds with excavation details
These standardized identification methods for more accurate comparison between archaeological sites in this region. The South West Heritage Trust continues to develop this important archaeological resource that enhances our understanding of Somerset’s rich historical heritage through the study of everyday ceramic objects.
The SPFTS is managed by the South West Heritage Trust and contains pottery sherds from the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, Somerset Council and North Somerset Council museum collections. While the digital archive offers convenient remote access, researchers can also examine the physical reference collection at the Somerset Heritage Centre near Taunton by appointment.
Payne, N. (2025) Somerset Pottery Fabric Type Series [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1128373
