Bourbonnias :
Journal of Roman Pottery Studies  Vol 4, 1991 page 114
992  Menez, Y, 'Les céramiques fumigées ("Terra Nigra") du Bourbonnais. Etude des collections de Néris-les-Bains et Châteaumeillant', Revue Archéol du Centre de la France, T. 28 (2), 1989, 117-178.
exc,cd,syn/---/1st AD/typ
tng
This is a gathering together of all of the pottery which comes under the general heading "terra nigra" in the two museums at Néris-les-Bains and at Châteaumeillant; the forms have been ordered into a type series for the region, comprising some 102 forms, and these are illustrated (in some cases with two or three examples per type), with a catalogue in which each type is described and as many parallels are listed as the author could find. The arrangement of the forms seems reasonably sensible: like the Conspectus (entry no. 961, above), it goes from open to closed vessels, and enough examples are illustrated to make clear the parameters of each form. It is difficult to know, however, whether or not it will achieve more than a regional currency. Its first difficulty is the fact that the precise source(s) of virtually all of the material is not known, and therefore one does not know if this is exclusively a series for central France, or if it actually includes pieces from some distance away (the author suggests that local production was likely, but the presentation is not oriented in such a way that obviously imported pieces can be distinguished). Its second difficulty, which in fact will tend to trouble any similar undertaking elsewhere, is the extension of the definition of "terra nigra" to encompass a considerable range of jars and flagons. In Britain, we are happy to include such forms in 'London-type' ware, but they tend to be absent from "terra nigra" properly speaking, and if they did occur they would get lumped into something more amorphously described as 'Gallo-Belgic' wares. There are only four stamps in this report, but there are also a small number of pieces with very fine rouletting/roller-stamping, of the early, Gallo-Belgic sort.