Samian pottery, or Terra Sigillata, is a vital source of dates for any site and reveals much about other aspects of Roman life if aspects such as wear and tear, repair, vessel dimensions and other data are collected from the assemblage.

Decorated or plain Samian identification and analysis can be arranged for a single piece or a whole assemblage. For examples of style of report and sample quotes then please contact us. Your quote will be based on individual requirements for the study and report style:  contact us

A Dr37 bowl, above. The decoration is a repeated panel of figures comprising a stag (O.1704A), a crouched male figure with club (O.605) and afemale figure (O.281). The figures and the stag are those styles used between the Trajan and Antonine periods, although the beading and ovolo is not diagnostic. Trajan-Hadrian AD 120-170.

Decorated Samian from La Graufesenque  with lead repair rivets- Hercules fights the snakes. This formed part of a Dr30 bowl. The ovolo and Hercules figure (O.786) is that of Mercator AD 80-110.

A cup (Dr33a) from La Graufesenque, a 1st century form AD 43-100

A mortarium from Rheinzabern, East Gaul AD 170-250

Inner surface of Rheinzabern mortarium above, the grits show it was never used. It was broken into three parts and placed in a pit (Yewden Roman villa, Hambleden, Bucks). The vessel was restored in 1912

Dr38 bowl. Makers mark PRIVATIM Privatus iii indicating a date of 160-190 AD, Lezoux.

Samian reports can be:

1. ID of vessel type and area of manufacture (South Gaul, Central Gaul: Lezoux and Les Martres de Veyre, East Gaul) with sherd count, weight and date.

2. More detailed version of 1. including other details such as wear patterns, decoration, etc. Makers name and decoration type will be noted, but not researched.

3. Full report with full statistics of vessels, makers names researched, decorated sherds/vessels fully researched with motifs identified and the refined dates that this makes possible, rubbings and photographs taken where appropriate.

Day rate: as a guide the rate for Samian work is £120-180 per day.