Casgliadau Arlein

Sherds from a large bowl (form 29), stamped OF.RVFINI, the stamp of the potter Rufinus. The bowl is substantially complete, with a footring scarcely worn and kiln-grit surviving inside the base. The upper zone is pannelled and the lower zone is divided into two sub-zones. The upper has narrow panels with lions to the left and right and internal vertical borders. The wide panels contain hares between and dogs over rows of heart-shaped leaves, enclosed in diagonal wavy lines. The lower has a band of palisades and one of the festoons, with birds alternately to right and left, and pendants which are similar to but smaller than the pallisades.

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