Casgliadau Arlein

Sherds from a large bowl (form 29), stamped OFVITA. This is the stamp of the potter Vitalis ii. He is known to have made form 30 bowls but the lack of uniformity of style in this form suggests that he was using moulds from a number of different potters. The bowl is approximately half-complete, with a well-worn footring and a rim drilled for rivetting. The rim is distorted and the bowl is burnt or, more probably, slightly wasted. The scroll in the upper zone has large and small spirals and four-petalled plants.The scroll in the lower zone has blurred (trifid?) motifs between triangular leaves with looped borders in the upper concavities. The lower concavities have complete motifs consisting of a central stem with triple poppy-heads at the top, enclosed in an elliptical festoon with acorn terminals. The side tendrils at the bottom end in stylised buds. There are fingerprints and finger nail impressions on the sherds, and sand-release imprint.

The samian recovered from the excavations on the British Telecom site, though not great in quantity, is of particular interest since it includes a substantial group of South Gaulish decorated ware from La Graufesenque, which belongs to the early occupation of the fortress. When reassembled, some of these bowls are largely complete, though the sherds have been widely scattered and often turned up in later levels. Some show evidence of considerable wear, including D1, the bowl that is stylistically the earliest found. This suggests that it had been used elsewhere before being brought to the fortress.

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