Fabric 23 - South Midlands shell-tempered ware
Soft to hard fired with abundant inclusions of shell measuring between 0.03mm and 3.5mm but mostly c.1.5mm. Also contains limestone fragments (0.3-1.0mm), occasional clay pellets (<0.5mm) and iron ore (<0.5mm).
Grey in colour, sometimes with oxidised beige brown surfaces.
Grey in colour, sometimes with oxidised beige brown surfaces.
Manufacture
Wheel-thrown
Decoration
Surfaces smoothed, often displaying horizontal rilling. Occasional incised wavy lines and 'slashed' rims. (Tyers 1996, 192)
Harrold, BEDFORDSHIRE
Lakenheath in Suffolk is also a possible production site and further sources are also likely (Tyers 1996, 192). Vessels of this fabric are found in quantity as far as Wroxeter and North Wales but are less common in the south west and South Wales, suggesting that the main route for distribution of material into the region was Watling Street (Evans 1994, 146).
Lakenheath in Suffolk is also a possible production site and further sources are also likely (Tyers 1996, 192). Vessels of this fabric are found in quantity as far as Wroxeter and North Wales but are less common in the south west and South Wales, suggesting that the main route for distribution of material into the region was Watling Street (Evans 1994, 146).
Roman (Late 4th to early 5th century)
Vessels of this type were made and distributed in the immediate locality of the production site(s) from the 1st century onwards. However, a major expansion of the industry occurred from the early 4th century, with vessels appearing in quantity on sites in the late 4th century. The absence of vessels of this type on some sites in Worcestershire is seen to indicate abandonment by the mid 4th century.
Vessels of this type were made and distributed in the immediate locality of the production site(s) from the 1st century onwards. However, a major expansion of the industry occurred from the early 4th century, with vessels appearing in quantity on sites in the late 4th century. The absence of vessels of this type on some sites in Worcestershire is seen to indicate abandonment by the mid 4th century.
Hardness
Hard
Feel
Soapy
Fracture
Hackly
Surface treatment
Smoothed with rilling and sometimes incised decoration
Core colour
Dark grey
Int surface colour
Dark grey
Ext surface colour
Dark grey
| DB ID | Modified | Description | Frequency | Size | Sorting | Rounding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 149 | 0 | Shell | Abundant | Coarse | Ill-sorted | Conchoidal |
| 150 | 0 | Limestone | Common | Medium | ||
| 151 | 0 | Clay pellets | Sparse | Fine | ||
| 152 | 0 | Iron-rich pellets | Sparse | Fine |