Casgliadau Arlein

Large sherd fragments from a decorated bowl (form 29). The upper zone contains a winding scroll, with spirals, fronds and small rosettes. The lower zone is divided horizontally, with a sub-zone of short, straight gadroons over elliptical festoons with geese to left and right, thirteen-petalled rosettes and poppy-head tassels. The basal wreath consists of chevrons. The date is circa AD 70-85.

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.

bowl