YORYM 1976-81.7
– COPPERGATE, YORK
Ceramic
Building Materials
S
Garside-Neville
1.0
Introduction
There
were 204 boxes of ceramic building materials (CBM) from the Coppergate
excavations of 1976 to 1981. The CBM was recorded on a pro forma. The fabrics were matched with the existing
fabric samples held at the York Archaeological Trust. The form and complete measurements (mostly thickness) were also
recorded. Where appropriate, comments
were made, such as observations on condition, reuse and so on. No weighing was carried out due to the
random on-site sampling policy.
Discarding of recorded fragments took place when it was deemed that the
fragment could not yield any further information. In consequence, about 75% of the sample was discarded, leaving a
total of 46 boxes of CBM. These boxes
are broadly divided into the following:
1 box post-medieval material
13
boxes medieval material
7 boxes Anglo-Scandinavian material
24
boxes Roman material
1 box fabric queries
It
should be noted that the boxes of Anglo-Scandinavian material and medieval
material are loosely sorted, so that there is likely to be more pre-Conquest
material in the medieval boxes.
There
were several difficulties encountered with the material. In particular, the presence of other
categories of finds, which included animal bone, pottery (large amounts of
amphora were mis-sorted as tile), crucible and loom-weights. These required rebagging and labelling. Approximately one third of the sample was
packed in paper bags. Due to the length
of time in storage, these bags had decayed.
This caused, in some cases, the
mixing of contexts within a box. In
other cases, the bags had also stained the tile so that it was difficult to read the context number. The dust caused by these decayed bags was
unpleasant. Paper-bagged material
needed to be rebagged and labelled, which also took extra time.
1.1
Summary
Number
of boxes: 204
Number
of small finds: 112
Number
of fragments examined: c. 16,000
Number
of boxes retained: 46
2.0
The sample
2.1
Roman material
A
large amount of the material examined was Roman. However, 92% of that material was found in non-Roman contexts,
and is therefore residual.
Forms
present:
Flue
tile - keying: combed, finger-smoothed and scored
Tegula
and Imbrex - large and small sizes
Brick - of various sizes
Antefix
- two small fragments
Fabrics:
These mostly matched the samples
already held
Tile
stamps:
Legionary
Possible civilian
2.1.1
Recommendations
There
is only a small section of the sample that comes from Roman contexts. Due to this, the potential for this sample
to provide useful information about either the sample or the Roman CBM industry
is limited. However, there is a
collection of tile stamps, including a probable civilian stamp that warrant
further study. There are also two
fragments of antefix. In addition,
there is a large collection of tegula flanges, which could be recorded to
provide comparisons for other sites.
After recording, these flanges could then be discarded. However, this might take place as a separate
project rather than for this site report.
2.2
Anglo-Scandinavian material
In
this sample, the definition of 'Anglo-Scandinavian' material is the CBM that
occurs in pre-medieval contexts.
Fabrics:
Broad range, some of which continue
into the medieval period. Local and possible imported material
Forms
present:
Floor
tile - The small finded floor tile from this sample numbered 22, however,
after recording the bulk finds, a further 54 pieces were found.
Some of the designs have not been previously published.
Curved
and flanged - It was initial examination of the CBM records that indicated that the curved and flanged material
began to appear in Anglo-Scandinavian
contexts. Curved and flanged is similar to the Roman roofing system,
but tends to be smaller in size, and is sometimes glazed.
Specialised
roofing material - There is a small category of material the function of which is uncertain.
2.2.1
Discussion
The
potential of this section of the sample is very high. Approximately 20% of the
curved and flanged material comes from well-dated securely stratified
Anglo-Scandinavian contexts. It points
to a previously unknown CBM industry of a very early date. The Coppergate material could be the
earliest known ceramic roof tile in Britain and Europe, and therefore will be
of international significance (pers comm Alan Vince). The contexts are securely dated and there is a large enough
sample to make the evidence convincing.
Perhaps the CBM industry in York not only supplied floor tiles to the
Church, but also produced roofing material to a wider market. However, it is possible that some of the
material was imported.
2.2.2
Recommendations
It
is recommended that fabric analysis is carried out. Some of the fabrics seem to be used into the medieval period (to
manufacture peg tile). One fabric (M9)
is very refined, and atypical in appearance to any of the usual York
fabrics. It has a mica content which is
not a characteristic of York clay, being more typical of the Beverley area
(pers comm Alan Vince).
Analysis
of fabrics through thin sections should be carried out to confirm the location
of the clay sources. In the case of M9,
it may be more appropriate to analyse the sanding to find out the whether it is
actually from local sandstones. This
will aid the dating of various industries, some of which may be short-lived, or
perhaps continue into the medieval period. Also, it was noticed that the
fabrics of some of the loomweights were similar to that of M9, which may be
worth confirming.
Comparison
with pottery fabrics must take place, in an attempt to relate the two ceramic
industries to one another. The input of
a pottery specialist will be needed for this to take place.
Typological
study of the forms is recommended.
Variations in flange shape may be significant. Some curved tile may prove to be ridge tile. The floor tile designs need to be matched
with published material.
2.3
Medieval material
Forms
present:
Floor
tiles (small sample)
Peg
Nib
Curved and flanged
Ridge
(including crested)
Brick
Louvers
Fabrics:
It may be possible to pinpoint when
certain common fabrics begin to
appear.
New fabrics appear after the Conquest
2.3.1
Discussion
The
potential of this material is fairly high.
Due to the layers of well-stratified dumping, this material can be used
to securely date the occurrence of forms and fabrics in York. The material is associated with tenements,
so that the tile may be able to suggest phases of re-building, demolition
debris, dumping, status and so on.
Very
little peg occurs pre-1200 which suggests little contamination occurred. Nib occurs in low numbers throughout the
medieval period, suggesting use on a monor scale. However, one of the
fabrics associated with the Nib tile is very distinctive, and may be imported
from outside the area. About 20% of
curved and flanged tile appears pre-1150, so that a total of 40% if this
material seems to be of an earlier date than previously thought. There is some brick present in very early
contexts.
2.3.2
Recommendations
Input
from a pottery specialist will be needed to relate the ceramic industries. Further analysis of the presence of curved
and flanged tile in pre-1150 contexts needs to be undertaken. Characterisation of mesaurements of peg
tile dimensions can take place. The
features and dating of the Crested ridge tiles can be studied further.
3.0
Analysis methodology
-
Close examination of the CBM records relating the site and the forms and
fabrics found
-
Further research into the retained finds (eg. floor tile, curved and flanged,
peg tile, and so on)
-
Need for scientific analysis of
Anglo-Scandinavian and medieval material