Ceramic production in a Roman frontier zone : a comparative Neutron Activation and Petro-Textural analysis of Roman coarse pottery from selected sites on and around the Antonine wall, Scotland
A series of recent excavations on the 2nd Century AD Antonine frontier forts of the Midland Scottish valley, have produced results which suggest that the army was making its own pottery on an appreciable scale. This was at a time when pottery production was thought to have moved almost exclusively into civilian hands. The possible local ware groups identified by the excavations were largely independent of firm source indicators such as kiln and waster material and the number of available samples was often-small. A program of Neutron Activation and Thin Section petrological analyses was undertaken along with an investigation into Textural Analysis, a facet of the Petrological toolkit. The aim was both to define the site ware groups and a group of specialist vessels thought to be local to Scotland, the Mortaria, and to make statements as to their provenance. Although the Mortaria analysis was limited by problems of sample group size and availability, by improving the objectivity of the statistical handling of the derived data sets and developing methods for the high level study of textural data, the site ware groups were defined successfully at both the ~intrall and ~inter~ site levels. The analyses also furnished
Gillings, Mark
Ceramic production ; Coarse ware ; Multivariate statistics ; Neutron Activation Analysis ; Roman textural analysis ; Thin section petrology ; Trade ; Antonine Wall, Scotland
Ceramic production in a Roman frontier zone : a comparative Neutron Activation and Petro-Textural analysis of Roman coarse pottery from selected sites on and around the Antonine wall, Scotland. A series of recent excavations on the 2nd Century AD Antonine frontier forts of the Midland Scottish valley, have produced results which suggest that the army was making its own pottery on an appreciable scale. This was at a time when pottery production was thought to have moved almost exclusively into civilian hands. The possible local ware groups identified by the excavations were largely independent of firm source indicators such as kiln and waster material and the number of available samples was often-small. A program of Neutron Activation and Thin Section petrological analyses was undertaken along with an investigation into Textural Analysis, a facet of the Petrological toolkit. The aim was both to define the site ware groups and a group of specialist vessels thought to be local to Scotland, the Mortaria, and to make statements as to their provenance. Although the Mortaria analysis was limited by problems of sample group size and availability, by improving the objectivity of the statistical handling of the derived data sets and developing methods for the high level study of textural data, the site ware groups were defined successfully at both the ~intrall and ~inter~ site levels. The analyses also furnished
ceramic_production roman_frontier zone comparative activation analysis roman coarse pottery select_site around wall scotland series recent_excavation century frontier fort midland scottish valley produce suggest army make pottery scale time pottery_production think move almost_exclusively civilian hand possible local ware group identify excavation largely independent firm source indicator kiln material number available sample often small program activation thin_section petrological analysis undertake along investigation analysis facet petrological toolkit aim define site ware group group specialist vessel think local scotland make statement provenance although analysis limit problem sample group size availability improve objectivity statistical handling derive data_set develop method high_level study data site ware group define successfully inter_site level analysis also furnish