Roman Britain in 1914 | Page 8

at Holt, and a few crucibles for casting small bronze objects,
may also be mentioned.
The Twentieth Legion tiles at Holt bear stamps identical with those on
its tiles at Chester; we may think that the legion made for itself at Holt
most of the tiles which it used in its fortress. Equal interest and more
novelty attaches to the pottery made at Holt. This comprises many
varieties; most prominent is a reddish or buff ware of excellent
character, coated with a fine slip, which occurs in many different forms
of vessels, cooking pots, jars, saucers, and even large flat dishes up to
30 inches in diameter. Specimens of these occur also in Chester, and it
is clear that the legionary workmen made not only tiles--as in legionary
tile-works in other lands--but also pots, mortaria (fig. 1), &c., for
legionary use.
Perhaps the most remarkable pieces among the pottery are some
stamped pieces copied from decorated Samian, which I am able to
figure here by Mr. Acton's kindness (figs. 1, 10, 11). They are pale
reddish-brown in colour and nearly as firm in texture as good Samian;
they are made (he tells me) by throwing on a wheel a clay (or 'body')
prepared from local materials, then impressing the stamps, and finally
laying on an iron oxide slip, perhaps with a brush. Sir Arthur Evans has
pointed out to me that the stamp used for the heads on fig. 1 was a gem
set in a ring; the setting is clearly visible under each head. The shape
and ornament have plainly been suggested by specimens of Samian '37'
bowls, probably of the second century. How far the author tried to copy
definite pieces of Samian and how far he aimed at giving the general
effect, is not quite clear to me. The large circles on fig. 11 suggest the
medallions of Lezoux potters like Cinnamus; the palmettes might have
been taken from German originals. Very few of these interesting pieces
were found--all of them close to the kiln numbered 3 on fig. 5.

[Illustration: FIG. 10. HOLT, STAMPED WARE IN IMITATION OF
SAMIAN, SHAPE 37 (1/1)]
An even more striking piece (fig. 1) is a 'poinçon' bearing the head of
Silenus in relief. It is believed to be the artist's die, from which the
potters' sunk dies would be cast; from such sunk dies little casts would
be made and 'applied' in relief to the outsides of the bowls, to the
handles of jugs, &c. It does not seem to have been intended for any sort
of ware made from a mould; indeed, moulded ware rarely occurs
among the products of Holt. It is far finer work than most Samian
ornamentation; probably, however, it has never been damaged by use.
It was found, with one or two less remarkable dies, in the waste round
kiln 3.
[Illustration: FIG. 11. STAMPED WARE, IN IMITATION OF
SAMIAN, SHAPE 37 (1/1). (See pp. 19, 20)]
Interest attaches also to various vessels, two or three nearly perfect and
many broken, which have been glazed with green, brown or yellow
glaze; some of these pieces seem to be imitated from cut glass ware.
Along with them Mr. Acton has found the containing bowls (saggars)
and kiln-props used to protect and support the glazed vessels during the
process of firing, and as the drip of the glaze is visible on the sides of
the props and the bottoms of the saggars, he infers that the Holt potters
manufactured glazed ware with success.
It is obvious that Mr. Acton's detailed report on Holt will be full of
important matter, and that further excavation of the site, whenever it
may be possible, will also yield important results.
(xiii) Cardiff. The widening of Duke Street, which fronts the eastern
half of the south side of Cardiff Castle, has revealed the south-east
angle of the Roman fort, on the top of which the castle stands, and has
revealed it in good preservation. Nothing, however, has come to light
which seems to increase or alter our previous knowledge of the fort.
Many small Roman objects are stated to have been found, Samian ware,
coins, brooches, beads, in the course of the work; these may belong to
the 'civil settlement' which, as I have said elsewhere, may have lain to

the south of the fort (Military Aspects of Roman Wales, p. 105). When
they have been sorted and dated, they should throw light on the history
of Roman Cardiff.
(xiv) Richborough. This important site has been taken over by H.M.
Office of Works, and some digging has been done round the central
platform, but (Mr. Peers tells me) without any notable result. The
theory that this platform was the base of a lighthouse is still the most
probable.
xv-xxv. FINDS RELATING TO CIVIL LIFE