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Appendix 1: Keywords and Definitions
Appendix 2: Physical Layout of Sherds Housed in the NRFRC
Single sample
Although this sample deviates somewhat from the standard description of Pompeian Red ware 6, it is likely to belong to that category and is included here as an example of the diversity in Pompeian Red wares found in Britain.
The single sample in our collection is cream (10YR 8/1) with a pale grey (7/0) core. Externally the surface is brown (7.5YR 7/4), unslipped and rough, while the internal surface has a smooth purple-brown (2.5YR 4/4) slip. The fabric is hard with an irregular fracture. It differs from Peacock’s (1977b, 155) description by being light rather than black, although De Laet and Thoen (1969) describe uncommon sherds with a black core and beige (10YR 6/4) margins. The most common form in Britain is a flat-rim dish (Peacock 1977b, fig 3, 14), although plain-rim dishes are also known in the ware (De Laet & Thoen 1969).
Overall the inclusions are well sorted and generally measure <0.2mm. Both quartz (occasionally to 0.5mm) and black or orange-brown iron-rich grains (mostly <0.1mm) are common. Sparse large brown iron-rich inclusions (1.0mm>) can also be identified.
This sample contains abundant well-sorted and densely packed angular quartz measuring 0.05–0.1mm, with sparse but regular grains measuring up to c 0.3mm. The clay is part-isotropic. In a similar size range are common opaques, and sparse glauconite, chert and feldspar. Rare clay pellets measure to 1.5mm, while rare threads of muscovite mica can also be seen.
Peacock (1977b, 155) has tentatively suggested a source in west Flanders for this fabric.
York Archaeological Trust
York Archaeological Trust
De Laet, S J, & Thoen, H, 1969 Etudes sur la céramique de la nécropole gallo-romaine de Blicquy (Hainaut) IV. La céramique ‘à enduit rouge-Pompéien’, Helinium 9, 28–38
Peacock, D P S, 1977b Pompeian red ware, in Pottery and commerce. Characterization and trade in Roman and later ceramics (ed D P S Peacock), 147–62
Perrin, J R, 1981a Roman pottery from the Colonia: Skeldergate and Bishophill, The Archaeology of York. The pottery 16/2
Plate 32: Fresh sherd break of IMP PR 6 (width of field 24 mm)
Plate 32.1: Photomicrograph of IMP PR 6 (XPL) (width of field 1.74 mm)
Plate 32.2: Photomicrograph of IMP PR 6 (PPL) (width of field 1.74 mm)
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