BRIQUETAGE

Three fragments of Roman ceramic briquetage slabs, probably daitng to c. AD 250-410. The slabs are irregular in plan and flat in cross section, with one likely surviving to its original thickness (no.1: c. 21.3mm thick; 89.5g in weight), the other two fragments (no. 2: 15.1mm thick; 64.6g in weight; no. 3: 12.0mm thick; 67.7g in weight) having lost their original surfaces. The fragments are of a uniform fabric, oxidised and with an extremely abundant, coarse organic temper. In colour the fabric varies both between and on fragments, ranging from brick red, to lilac and buff-white; the variation in colour caused by chlorides in the salt bleaching of the iron oxides in the clay.

Total weight: 221.8g.

A number of salterns are known on the Somerset levels, and the fabric seen here closely resembles that found on other sites (cf. that from the nearby Pyde Drove, nr. Woolavington, in Hughes, Payne & Rainbird 2017), the saltern mounds at the above site were associated with ceramic sherds dating to the later Roman period (ibid: table 1). This record is a small sample of a larger assemblage which has been disturbed by Badgers, see also SOM-4874C1, as well as a collection of ceramic sherds: SOM-559298, SOM-56B5A1, SOM-56E0C1.