Welcome to the spring edition of the SGRP Newsletter. It is a packed issue and contains information about a project to preserve Brian Hartley’s legacy, an update on the Research Strategy and updated agenda and various conferences - past and forthcoming ones: the End of Roman Britain conference, RAC/TRAC, the Regional Meeting at Mill End in February and of course the 2010 SGRP conference.
                                                                                                                              Happy reading! Gwladys Monteil

News from the Committee
The Brian Hartley Legacy of Rubbings of Decorated Samian Ware
Jane Evans writes
Since the conference last year, the committee has been in discussion with Geoffrey Dannell regarding a project, which aims to preserve and make accessible Brian Hartley’s samian rubbings (a project described by Geoffrey Dannell below). The original intention was to approach English Heritage for funding to produce DVDs which could then be sold. For various reasons (in particular the timescale, the complexity of putting together a grant application for English Heritage, and a desire to have longer term control over the resource) it was felt to be more efficient for the SGRP to provide financial backing for the project. The committee have therefore offered, on behalf of the Group, £700 towards the project, with the intention of recouping a substantial proportion of this back from DVD sales. The project will make a lasting contribution to samian studies and is a tribute to the work of Brian Hartley and Brenda Dickinson.

Geoffrey Dannell writes:
Following Brian Hartley’s death in 2005, his colleagues were faced with the major problem of publishing his lifetime’s studies of samian ware (terra sigillata). His archives of potters stamps are now being published by his long-time collaborator, Brenda Dickinson, as Names on Terra Sigillata (Institute of Classical Studies, 9 Vols.), but there was also a considerable archive of rubbings of decorated samian, which were loose in files, sorted into 382 sites, which he, Brenda Dickinson, Kay Hartley and Felicity Wild, and other friends had made over some 50 years.
   Two problems became apparent as the material was reviewed: many of the rubbings were deteriorating as their tissue paper became brittle and discoloured; second, there was much which had never been fully published. The danger that this unique archive might be lost through neglect or dispersal was recognised and with the financial support of The Roman Research Trust and The Haverfield Trust, Robert Hopkins has undertaken the onerous task of mounting and scanning all of the material. Ted Connell is slowly putting it up on the SGRP Website – another major task – which will allow researchers to view it remotely.
   The importance of this operation should be recognised not merely as an archival procedure. It offers all who might carry out excavations in the future, on the sites represented by the archive, an opportunity to review existing material and to make correlations, essential since so much of the material has never been published.
   The Web pages cannot be used for republication, or indeed for close comparisons, so the SGRP in conjunction with the funding bodies above, and the Leeds IPS Appeal Fund, are proposing to publish the British material in DVD format at 1:1. The scanned rubbings have not been enhanced, but can be, using any suitable programme like Adobe Photoshop, and offer a direct means to conventional publication for comparative or synthetic purposes.
   The material represented in the archive is ‘a must’ for field archaeologists who engage with the Roman period, for museums, and for university libraries. It is hoped that copies will be available in time for the Nottingham Conference.

2010 committee elections
After two terms in office, Louise Rayner feels that it is time to open the post of Treasurer/membership Secretary to nomination. If anyone is interested in taking on the role, Louise would be happy to discuss the responsibilities involved or provide more information (louise@lourayner.freeserve.co.uk). The committee is also looking for two new ordinary members to fill the spaces left by Amy Thorp and Jonathan Dicks, who are stepping down at the end of their terms of office.

Seconded by ...............................................……………...........................................................

Please complete, print and return, with the nominee’s permission, to Gwladys Monteil, Hon Secretary, 21 Wilberforce Road, Wisbech, PE13 2EX

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A busy few months for conferences !
20th of February - A successful regional meeting at Mill Green Museum
Chris Lydamore writes: An unexpected Pleasure!
SGRP members on a recent visit to the Roman Baths at Welwyn, Herts, enjoyed an unexpected bonus when they were joined by Tony Rook, the original excavation Director of the baths. Tony had arranged to meet one of the delegates in the party to discuss a separate matter but, in response to requests from the group, very graciously agreed to give a brief account of the events leading up to the discovery, excavation and amazing preservation of the baths. The visit to the baths, which was organised as part of a South East regional group meeting held at Mill Green Museum, Hatfield, Herts, was a chance for members to view the new and much improved artefact displays.

          
Roman Baths, Welwyn                                                  Talk in progress

   Following the visit to the baths delegates adjourned to Mill Green Museum for the remainder of the day. Talks commenced with a presentation by Nicki Metcalf on the design concepts underpinning the new bath house displays and a resume of the trials and triumphs of turning ideas into displays. Nicki was followed by Lee Joyce and Clare Lewis, volunteers at the Museum of Harlow, who gave an update on the development of the Harlow fabric reference collection, including fabric reference loan boxes available for use by local societies. The morning session was bought to a close by Bryan Scott who gave a brief account of excavations undertaken at an RB cemetery at The Grange, Hatfield, followed by a viewing and handling session of a selection of the complete vessels found during the excavations.
   The afternoon session was kicked off by Edward Biddulph who had kindly agreed to revisit his excellent and thought provoking talk "The cost of pottery; an approach to estimating funeral expenditure" first presented at the Cardiff conference. The funereal theme was continued by our next speaker Simon West of the St. Albans Museum Service, who shared some of the discoveries thrown up by the ongoing research into the rich and fascinating grave goods recovered from the Turners Hall Farm burials. Our final talk of the day, by Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews, gave an overview of the very extensive ceramic archives from Baldock. Keith was able to end his talk on a high note by announcing, with evident pleasure, that "Excavations at Baldock, Hertfordshire, 1978-1994 Volume 1: An Iron Age & Romano-British Cemetery at Wallington Road" is due to be published in May this year.
   I am sure that I can speak for all who attended the day in offering a huge thanks to our speakers for all of their work in providing a diverse and stimulating day of talks and discussion. A special thank you is owed to the staff at Mill Green Museum who gave us free use of the museum buildings and provided refreshments for the day, made the Grange archive available to us and opened the bath house especially for our private viewing.

The next regional meeting is provisionally scheduled for the 24th of July at Piddington Roman Villa Museum, further details will be distributed to members nearer the time.

The end of Roman Britain Conference (Roman Society and Dept of Portable Antiquities
   and Treasure, British Museum, 13th-14th March 2010)
Jane Evans writes:
The conference covered a wide range of approaches, sources of evidence, and geographic areas. Topics included historical sources, coin and artefact evidence, linguistics, mosaics, hoards and Hacksilber, towns, rural settlements and villas. Pottery as a source of evidence was referred to in a number of the more archaeological papers, but disappointingly no paper focussed specifically on the pottery evidence (or lack of it!).
   Two papers discussed the contribution made by PAS finds; expanding and filling gaps in the distribution of well dated coins, and enabling new late Roman artefact classes to be identified (rings cut down from late Roman bracelets described by Ellen Swift). Interestingly these two themes (the filling of gaps in distribution maps and the identification of new types) also came through in a session on linear archaeology (road schemes and pipelines) at the RAC. Fieldwork on these linear projects is locating the field systems and cemeteries outside settlements, and very late Roman/post Roman settlements away from the main foci of Roman activity. The importance of C14 dating for identifying late Roman/sub Roman burials was also highlighted at both conferences.
   Hilary Cool, in her paper, noted the importance of following the trajectory of ‘late Roman change’ back through the Roman period. As an example she described how the dominance of glass drinking vessels in the 4th century might be traced back to a narrowing of the range of vessels used during the 3rd century; patterns that could be explored in pottery assemblages.
   A similar conference, reviewing the evidence from western Britain, is being held in Cardiff on October 30th and 31st. ‘Emperors, usurpers, tyrants: the history and archaeology of western Britain from AD 350 to 500,’ covers a similar wide range of evidence. Speakers include Peter Webster, on pottery supply and production, Hilary Cool on the artefactual evidence, Roger White, Richard Brewer, Neil Holbrook, Peter Guest and Roger Tomlin. For more information see:
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/hisar/newsandevents/archaeology/emperors-usurpers-tyrants-the-history
-and-archaeology-of-western-britain-from-ad-350-to-500.html

The Roman Archaeology Conference 2010
Jill Braithwaite’s Gillam prize formed the basis of a bursary in her honour for a SGRP member to attend the 2010 Roman Archaeology Conference. The conference was held at the University of Oxford from Thursday 25 March to Sunday 28 March.   A.P. Souter, winner of the Jill Braithwaite’s bursary to attend RAC/TRAC 2010 writes:
TRAC/RAC 2010, 25th-28th March, Oxford
The annual RAC/TRAC conference this year took place in the centre of Oxford within the prestigious surroundings of the Ashmolean Museum, the Taylorian Institute, and the Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies. These provided a unique setting for the presentation of a wide range of cutting-edge research and the event was well attended over the four day period. Following an introductory welcoming speech by Professor Andrew Wilson and the award of the Roman Society Dissertation Prize by Dr Peter Guest, the Roman Society Centenary lecture was delivered in the Pitt Rivers Museum by Dr Andrew Burnett (deputy director of the British Museum), concerning provincial coins and the depiction of Roman emperors. This was followed by a superb reception at the newly refurbished Ashmolean Museum that provided the opportunity to meet with friends and colleagues and to be introduced to the other conference delegates.

     
Ashmolean Museum                                        Andy with posters             

   The importance of this event for advancing the discipline of Roman Archaeology was evident given the sheer diversity of sessions (a total of 21) on themes including Rome and the Sea, Materialising Religion, Linear Schemes and the Roman Rural Landscape, Histories of Roman Imperialism, Rome Beyond the Imperial Frontiers, Pottery Distribution and Inter-regional Trade, the Latin East and Roman Diasporas in addition to the TRAC general sessions. A series of informative posters were also displayed within the Ioannou Centre: in addition to my own work on Lusitanian amphorae and Mediterranean commerce, other posters included those on recent excavations at the necropolis of Hierapolis in Phrygia and also on amphora forms and associated stamps from Lipari. These all attracted a steady number of delegates over the weekend and demonstrated the usefulness of presenting research using this format.
   While it was not possible to attend all the lectures that were of interest, I particularly enjoyed listening to Simon Keay’s talk on the recent work conducted at Portus in addition to a useful discussion presented by Candace Rice on amphorae and shipwrecks in the western Mediterranean basin. Excellent presentations were also given on various aspects of Pompeii, particularly concerning the tabernae and use of domestic space, and the research concerning the villas around the Bay of Naples proved fascinating. Equally informative were the presentations on linear schemes and pipeline archaeology in the rural landscape of Roman Britain. Other talks that were of much interest and well received were those by Roberta Tomber on the presence and significance of Roman material in India in addition to that by Paul Reynolds on ceramic wares in Roman Phoenicia. Combined, the papers that were presented were all of great interest and the publication of the conference proceedings will undoubtedly benefit the interests of many researchers and stimulate further discussion.
   It was with great pleasure that I was able to attend this event and I would like to express my gratitude to the SGRP committee and members of the group for the award of the Jill Braithwaite bursary. Although I did not have the opportunity to meet Jill, it was an honour to receive this award. I would also like to thank the organisers of both RAC and TRAC for organising what proved to be an enjoyable, informative and memorable event.

The Graham Webster Memorial Grants for attending the Annual Conference
In commemoration of the substantial contributions to Roman pottery of one of our founder members, Graham Webster, a conference bursary is available to those who would otherwise be unable to attend. The SGRP Committee invites those of limited means to apply for a grant towards the conference fee and travel. A total of £300 will be made available and will be awarded to applicants based on demonstrated need and relevance. The maximum amount available to any single applicant will be one-half of the conference cost and one-half of the travel expenses. The refund will be made at the conference in Nottingham. Applications may be submitted by members and non-members of the Group. Preference may be given to applicants wishing to attend most or all of the conference. A sub-committee of the President and Treasurer, who will seek advice as relevant, will consider the applications with discretion. Applications should be made via a brief statement verifying the limited means of the applicant and their wish to attend the conference. Applications may be submitted by email or letter to the Hon. Secretary (Gwladys Monteil, 21 Wilberforce Road, Wisbech, PE13 2EX, E-mail: ). The closing date for applications is the 21^st of May 2010. Applicants will be informed of the decision within a week of submission.

2011 SGRP CONFERENCE - Amsterdam
Julie Van Kerckhove has offered to host the 2011 conference in Amsterdam, from 24th-26th June. The conference would take place in the meeting room of the Allard Pierson Museum (a very beautiful location in the centre of Amsterdam), which would have a small exhibition on the Forum Hadriani excavations. Julie is working on ideas for session themes and trips, but has already suggested that the Saturday evening social event could be a visit to 'De Admiraal' (http://www.de-ooievaar.nl/english/), an authentic distillery located in the old centre of Amsterdam, where we could eat and try out the genevas (very typical for the region). Accommodation could be in the IBIS Amsterdam City Stopera (http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-3044-ibis-amsterdam-city-stopera/index.shtml), which is relatively cheap for Amsterdam but high-quality, and located in the city centre near the railway station and close to the subway.
   We think this would be a great opportunity to meet more European colleagues, and broaden our knowledge of Roman pottery on the continent. Anyone who attended the conference in Ghent will remember what an excellent conference, and enjoyable experience, that was. The costs would, however, be higher than normal. For this reason we are very keen to get some feedback from you, for or against this proposal, before the AGM. Accommodation in the IBIS would cost about 119 euro per room per night, with additional charges for breakfast (15 euro) and city tax (5%). Cheaper accommodation might be available in group rooms at the youth hostel, and members could obviously research better deals for accommodation themselves. There would be other additional costs: the tour bus (c 11 euros per person), the trip to 'De Admiraal' (10 euros per person for four different sorts of genevas and/ or liquors, 22-26 euros per person for a buffet), and lunches.
   Julie has already done a great deal of research on behalf of the Group, and we feel the conference organisation will be in very good hands. Also, no alternative venue has been suggested for 2011 as yet. But we do need to know that a conference in Amsterdam would be supported. Please let us know if you would be likely to attend, or if you have any alternative suggestions.

News & Updates

A Research Strategy and Updated Agenda for the Study of Roman Pottery in Britain
    – an update by Rob Perrin
Much has happened since the last newsletter. Around 90 members either returned a filled-in questionnaire or indicated that they felt that the questionnaire was not relevant to them at the moment. A rapid trawl of publications or articles on pottery over the last ten years has been carried out. The ‘audit’ of the wider profession, in terms of Universities, Museums, Journals, Local Government and Units is underway. This is taking the form of individual internet-based surveys which have been devised by the SGRP and MPRG and have been ‘posted’ by Anne Boyle of the MPRG. The addresses are:
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/255743/local-government-ceramic-survey
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/255807/university-ceramic-survey
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/255819/museum-ceramic-survey
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/255849/contracting-unit-ceramic-survey
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/255853/journal-ceramic-survey
The SGRP WIKIspace website is also almost ready to ‘go live’ and members will be e-mailed with details soon. The website will be similar to that for the MPRG:  http://mprg.wikispaces.com
   Unfortunately, only two of the planned regional workshops have attracted enough ‘attendees’ to go ahead. The first of these took place at Peterborough on April 17th. 17 SGRP members attended and were divided into groups to consider revisions to the existing SGRP Agenda and possible priorities for a Strategy. A lively and constructive day was had by all. The other workshop will take place in London on May 15th^. I currently have 15 members coming to this, but it is not too late for any other member(s) who wish to attend – just let me know.
   After the two workshops, I will be working hard on collating the results and providing the Group with information on these, together with the results of the questionnaire and literature search, via the SGRP website and WIKIspace.
                                                                                                                          Rob Perrin, April 2009

• 15th of May 2010 - SGRP Research Strategy Workshop, London
  For more information please contact Rob Perrin (robperrin@ntlworld.com)
  

• 22nd of May 2010 - Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery, Brunswick Road, Gloucester -Samian Working Group meeting.     Please contact Edward Biddulph (e.biddulph@oxfordarch.co.uk) or Gwladys Monteil if you want to find out more about the Samian Working Group.
  

• 25th of September 2010, Fishbourne Roman Palace, West Sussex. The Roman Empire: Global and Local. For further information or to register, contact Rob Symmons (coafish@sussexpast.co.uk) or fill out the application form at http://www.fishbourneromanpalace.com/2010/04/the-roman-empire-global-and-local-first-call-for-papers/. Call for papers open until the 30th of May.

• 16-17th December 2010, British Museum in London: Ceramics, Cuisine and Culture: the Archaeology and Science of Kitchen Pottery. Please see the following web-address: http://www.tracingnetworks.ac.uk/kitchen_pottery/index.htm for more details.

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News from Luxembourg
Dr. Franziska Dövener from the Musée National d'Histoire et d'Art in Luxemburg has recently published two articles in Empreintes - Annuaire du MNHA 2, 2009 which might be of interest to some of you (see summaries below). One is the first synopsis of the known Roman Pottery kilns in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The other concerns a rescue excavation of a villa site in the south of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The pottery assemblage contains amongst other things fragments of a face pot with zoomorphic (?) phalloi (colour-coated ware probably made at Trier).
    Römische Gebäudereste bei Dudelange-Burange- presumably Roman villa site (field name "Koibestrachen") at Dudelange-Burange (in the south of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg)  - rescue excavation by the MNHA between 2007-2008 which uncovered the remains of a multi-phased bath (?) building (1st c. AD-mid 4th c. AD)- review of former finds / excavations of prehistoric or Roman date in the immediate vicinity of the site ("archaeological landscape" known so far)- finds: prehistoric pottery ("Laufelder Kultur", about 700-600 BC), Roman pottery, coins, small bells, a so-called net repairer, the fragment of an exceptional bracelet (?), fragments of a face pot with zoomorphic (?) phalloi (colour-coated ware probably made at Trier).

Römerzeitliche Töpferwerkstätten in Luxemburg
   This is the first synopsis of the few so far known Roman pottery kiln sites in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Some of them have ancient recordings of finds / excavations (19th c.), some of them are 20th c. (rescue) excavations though often poorly documented (except the recent Titelberg excavations). The articles covers pottery kilns dating between the early 1st c. AD to the late 3rd c. AD and the kiln type (so far) is always Swan III/Le Ny a-Ib. Detailed studies of the produced pottery still need to be done but it probably represents pottery production for a limited local market. Of note is a fine ware production (early grey ware) on the Titelberg (during transitional phase from military presence to emporium and vicus). Special pots produced at Dalheim to build the dome of the pottery kiln ("Wölbtöpfe")
    Dr. Franziska Dövener has kindly provided PDF copies of the articles and they are available on demand (please email gwladys.monteil@nottingham.ac.uk). Dr. Franziska Dövener has also kindly produced hard copies, which will be available at the Nottingham conference.

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Please remember to keep your contact details up to date, including any new e-mail addresses.

Membership Secretary & Treasurer: Louise Rayner
   Flat 2, 121 Church Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 8QH.
   Email: louise@lourayner.freeserve.co.uk

Hon. Secretary SGRP:   Gwladys Monteil
   
   E-mail: