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Hand specimen picture panel
Thin section picture panel
Appendix 1: Keywords and Definitions
Appendix 2: Physical Layout of Sherds Housed in the NRFRC
Three samples
This ware is typified by its black (3/0–2.5/0) organic-rich break with pale brown (7.5YR 7/4–6/4) margins and surfaces, covered with a fused bronze-coloured micaceous surface. The fabric is hard with smooth surfaces, particularly when mica dusted, while the fracture is irregular. The Braives products are associated with embossed beakers, although coarse wares were also produced.
The fabric is characteristically fine with well-sorted quartz common, normally <0.1mm. Other inclusions are sparse but include fine mica (gold and ?silver) seen in the break and red and brown iron-rich fragments (to 0.4mm), sometimes identifiable as clay pellets. A single mica-dusted coarse ware sherd with larger quartz grains (<0.3mm) is also lodged with the collection.
Abundant well-sorted angular quartz, normally measuring c 0.05–0.1mm, with rare subrounded grains to c 0.5mm is visible in thin section. Other inclusions are sparse, but glauconitic pellets, feldspar and rare heavy minerals can be identified. Rare white mica is also present.
Excavations have revealed a ceramic workshop at Braives. A dump of mica-dusted wares, together with the generally large quantity of material present on site, strongly indicates that more than one workshop at Braives may have produced this type (Gustin 1985).
Centre de Recherches d’Archéologie Nationale, Université Catholique de Louvain
Colchester Museums; Centre de Recherches d’Archéologie Nationale, Université Catholique de Louvain (France)
Bocquet, A, 1990 Caractérisation pétrographique minéralogique et géochimique de céramiques fines gallo-romaines. Application aux sites belges de Braives et de Liberchies, Mémoire Institut des Sciences Naturelles Appliquées, Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve, inédit
Deru, X, 1994 La deuxième génération de la céramique dorée (50–180 après J.-C.), in La céramique du Haut Empire en Gaule belgique et dans les régions voisines: faciès régionaux et courants commerciaux. Actes de la table ronde d’Arras (12 au 14 octobre 1993) (eds M Tuffreau-Libre & A Jacques), Nord-Ouest Archéologie 6, 81–94, Berck-sur-Mer
Gustin, M, 1985 La céramique dorée, in Braives gallo-romain: 3. La zone périphérique occidentale (R Brulet), Publications d’histoire d’art et d’archéologie de l’Université Catholique de Louvain 46, 72–3, Louvain-la-Neuve
Gustin, M, 1990 La céramique dorée, in Braives gallo-romain: 4. La zone centre-ouest (R Brulet), Publications d’histoire d’art et d’archéologie de l’Université Catholique de Louvain 77, 123–4, Louvain-la-Neuve
Gustin, M & Derouaux, B, 1983 La céramique dorée, in Braives gallo-romain: 2. Le quartier des Potiers (R Brulet), Publications d’histoire d’art et d’archéologie de l’Université Catholique de Louvain 37, 104–5, Louvain-la-Neuve
Plate 35: Fresh sherd break of BRA MD (width of field 24 mm)
Plate 35.1: Photomicrograph of BRA MD (XPL) (width of field 1.74 mm)
Plate 35.2: Photomicrograph of BRA MD (PPL) (width of field 1.74 mm)
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