VESSEL

Two body sherds from pottery vessels, probably ‘tubby’ cooking pots of late Iron Age or Early Roman Date (100 BC – 100 AD). One sherd is broken into two pieces. The fabric of the sherds is a relatively hard earthenware containing moderate Malvernian rock fragments, commonly up to 2.0mm in size and fine quartz sand. Fabric number 3. The fabric colour is a mottled orange grey. The diameter of the vessel / vessels cannot be estimated due to the size of the sherds. There is also not enough of the body of the pot surviving to give an estimation of the depth or overall form/shape of the vessels. Given the composition of the fabric, the Malvern area seems the most likely source for this type. This form/fabric combination is a common find on early Roman sites in the Worcestershire area and a broad distribution pattern would include Herefordshire. The largest sherd (broken into two conjoining pieces) measures 44.3mm length, 29.8mm width, 8.8mm thick and weighs 13.42 grams. The smallest measures 29mm length, 30.4mm width, 12.6mm thick and weighs 10.26 grams.

Thanks are extended to Derek Hurst of Worcestershire Archaeological Service. Information also taken from the online fabric series: http://www.worcestershireceramics.org/hms/object.php?type=fabrics&id=139