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MORTARIUM
Unique ID: SOM-647512
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Two abraded Roman ceramic rim sherds, both from Mortaria, probably dating to c. 100-410.
The larger sherd is likely of Oxfordshire red/brown slipped ware, dating to AD 240-410. It is of a relatively soft fired, fine grained fabric with a pale grey reduced core and oxidised orange surfaces, the fabric contains common sub-rounded, dark brown ferrous inclusions, <2.5mm, occasional sub-angular white stone, <3mm, and angular quartz, <2mm. Into the interior surface a coarse grained, <4mm, quartz grit has been embedded. The Mortarium would originally had a mouth around 160mm in diameter. Weight: 46.52g.
The smaller sherd is of a different fabric also appears to be a mortaria sherd, and may possibly be earlier, resembling second century Shepton Mallet or Caerleon (or other similar) redwares, although this is a very tentative identification. The fabric is harder fired, and of an oxidised pale orange throughout. It has very common ferrous inclusions, <2mm, and common micaeous flecks.The flange on this sherd has a pronounced downwards facing lip and which is positioned in line with the rim. At less abraded breaks the fabric can also be seen to have a fairly laminar structure. The sherd is too fragmentary to estimate the diameter of the mouth, it weighs: 25.24g.
Class: Oxfordshire red/brown slipped ware
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 100
Date to: Circa AD 410
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 2
Weight: 71.68 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 1st July 2016 - Wednesday 31st August 2016
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: SCC receipt: 016943
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: South Somerset (District)
To be known as: Near Wincanton
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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