Roman glass with special reference to material from North Britain

Abstract

This work is divided into three Sections. The first considers the ancient glass industry as a whole; the second limits the subject historically to the Roman period; in the third the subject is further limited geographically to Roman Glass from North Britain. The opening section considers the ancient glass industry, its origins and history in pre-Roman and Roman times, and the technology of ancient glass, its compositions, manufacture, colour, and the different methods by which vessels were produced. The second Section specifically concerns Roman glass. It begins with an account of possible glass-producing centres in Roman Britain, notably Wilderspool, Caistor by Norwich, Colchester and Mancetter. There follows a consideration of sites in Egypt, Europe and Britain where Roman glass has been found, together with their relative importance and a discussion of published works on Roman glass. The archaeological approach to the dating of glass by examination of the stratification and history of the sites on which examples have been found is also described. In the third Section, 35 types of glass vessels found in North Britain are described in seven basic groups: unguentaria, flasks, flagons, bottles, jars, beakers, bowls and plates, following the progression from narrow vessels to broad. In each case a description of the type is given; the possible place of manufacture; North British examples; and parallels from elsewhere. Finally dating evidence is given, and a date based on this is suggested for each type. Interspersed between the types are four short notes on techniques used to decorate vessels. This section is illustrated by nine pages of Figures. There are three appendices. Two consider snakethread glass and the weathering of glass. The third is a report on the Roman glass found recently at Malton.