Fabric 33.3 - Oxfordshire red mortarium with a red/brown slip


Generally hard fired sandy fabric with sparse small black and red iron ore inclusions (<0.5mm), occasional lumps of chalk (<5.0mm) and frequently micaceous (Young 1977, 123).
Pale orange to red orange, often with a grey core.

033 3
Fabric 33.3 Oxfordshire red mortarium with red/brown slip

Manufacture
Wheel-thrown
Decoration
Orange to dark brown slip. Barbotine, rouletting, stamps, painting and moulded decoration also common.
Upper Thames Valley region, OXFORDSHIRE
Two forms of mortaria were produced in this fabric, both appearing to imitate samian forms. This copying is apparent in the non-functional spout of the Oxfordshire forms which clearly shows a lack of understanding of its purpose (Young 1977, 127). This mortarium type was widely distributed during the later 3rd and 4th centuries, particularly in the Severn Valley and Bristol Channel areas (Young 1977, 133-134).
9 related kilns
Roman (3rd to 4th century)
Production had begun by c.AD 240, continuing until the end of the 4th century.

Texture & Colour

Hardness
Hard
Feel
Smooth
Fracture
Smooth
Surface treatment
Orange to dark brown slip. Decoration includes barbotine, rouletting, stamps, indentations, painting and moulding.

Core colour
Orange
Int surface colour
Orange
Ext surface colour
Orange

Inclusions (3)

DB ID Modified Description Frequency Size Sorting Rounding
171 0 Iron-rich pellets Sparse Fine Sub-angular
172 0 Chalk Rare Coarse
173 0 Mica Abundant Flat

References ()