Collections Online
Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales
Advanced Search
Roman samian bowl, decorated and stamped
Sherds from a large bowl (form 29), stamped IIVST in the decoration of the lower zone and )FIVECVN inside the base. This is apparently the first recorded example of the use of a mould by the potter Iustus being used by another potter. The bowl is substantially complete, with footring scarcely worn. The upper zone has triple festoons with spirals, and tendrils with pointed leaves. The tassels end in bottle-buds. The lower zone has a winding scroll, with upper concavities containing triangular leaves, bottle-buds, fan-shaped buds and birds to the right. The lower concavities have composite motifs with trifid and bifid details, side tendrils with bottle buds and stylised grass tufts.
The samian recovered from the excavations on the British Telecom site, though not great in quantity, is of particular interest since it includes a substantial group of South Gaulish decorated ware from La Graufesenque, which belongs to the early occupation of the fortress. When reassembled, some of these bowls are largely complete, though the sherds have been widely scattered and often turned up in later levels. Some show evidence of considerable wear, including D1, the bowl that is stylistically the earliest found. This suggests that it had been used elsewhere before being brought to the fortress.
bowl
Collection Area
Item Number
Find Information
Site Name: British Telecom Site, Caerleon
Notes: Excavation conducted on land immediately to the east of the telephone exchange on Museum Street.