YORYM 1996.345 – PEASHOLME
GREEN/LAYERTHORPE, YORK
Ceramic Building
Materials and Stone
1.0 INTRODUCTION
There were 164 contexts which had ceramic building
materials and stone fragments. Many of
the contexts had large amounts of fragmentary material, so that there is a
substantial amount to investigate.
For this assessment the material has been viewed, the
forms recorded and the potential of the material considered.
2.0 ROMAN
MATERIAL
2.1 Summary
The bulk of the sample is Roman ceramic building
material. There is a large range of
forms, including roof tile (tegula and imbrex), and hypocaust components
(brick, half box flue, box flue). There
is a relatively small sample of stone, daub, and mortar. There are a total of 19 legionary tile
stamps, plus one piece of graffiti.
There is also a category of
fragments that could be attributed to kiln material.
2.2 Roof
tile
Much of the sample consists of fragments of imbrex and
tegula. These are mostly of a thickness
to suggest that the complete items would be consistent with the measurements
recorded by Betts (1985, 171-172). This
military material may well be early in date, as later on in the Roman period
roof tiles are much smaller (and probably of civilian manufacture).
2.3 Hypocaust
components
2.3.1 Half
box tile
There are several examples of half box tile. These are similar to tegula in form and
size, but have a section cut out of the flange to facilitate the lateral
movement of warm air when the tile was placed up against a wall. Half box tile is probably an early form of
cavity walling, the box flue superseding it by the beginning of the 2nd century
(Crowley, 1992, 150).
2.3.2 Box
flue tile
There are three types of keying present in this sample
- scoring, finger smoothing, and combing.
The combed material may well be later in date than the scoring, perhaps
coming into use in the early second century (Crowley, 1992, 150).
2.3.3 Brick
There are two measurable fragments of brick. One is 190mm across, which matches the
‘bessalis’ size of brick, and may well have been intended for use as part of
the hypocaust pilae (stacks). This tile
also has an unreadable tile stamp, plus bird or rodent prints on its upper
surface. The other fragment measures
275mm wide and 54mm thick. As this tile
is not complete it may be either a lydion (oblong shape) which could have been
used as a bonding brick or a pedalis (square shape) which may have been used to
cap the pilae in hypocausts.
2.3.4 ?Vaulting
tubes
[ask Paula for confirmation]
2.4 Tile
markings
There can be a variety of markings on Roman tile,
usually made whilst the clay is still wet.
2.4.1 Signatures
Signatures are so called as it is believed that they
were used by individual tile makers.
Normally, as with the York examples, they are made by drawing the
fingers across the wet clay. There are
several common types seen here,
including 2 or 3 arcs on the edge of
the tile.
2.4.2 Prints
Some fragments of tile show marks made by animals,
including goat or sheep and rodent or bird claw marks.
2.4.3 Raindrops
One tile clearly shows the impression of
raindrops. These would have been made when
the freshly made tile was laid out in the open to dry before firing.
2.4.4 Tile
stamps
There are a total of nineteen legionary tile stamps,
plus two unreadable examples. There are
four 9th legion stamps, which would have been made between cAD71 and cAD130
when the 9th legion was stationed in York.
There are fifteen 6th legion stamps, including those with the ‘Pia
Fidelis’ and ‘Victrix’ titles. Most of
the stamps match Betts’ catalogue (1985, 211-218) though there is at least one
stamp that may be new. The 6th legion
stamps will date from cAD130, however, Betts states that the last date to which
6th legion stamps can be confidently assigned is AD238 (when the legion was awarded another title
which can appear on stamps).
2.4.5 Graffiti
There is one example of graffiti on a tile that also
has a stamp. The writing is very
fragmentary, but may be readable by a specialist in Roman writing.
2.4.6 Hobnail
imprints
There are a couple of examples of hobnail imprints.
2.5 Kiln
material
This category of material could be associated with the
use of kilns. There are fragments of
clay lumps and balls, and a possible piece of kiln furniture. There are also some pieces of slag that may
be the by-product of kiln firings. In
particular, there are a large number of clay slabs, the fabric of which is
mixed with organic material (grass or straw).
The material is quite soft and, due to its organic content, relatively
light for its size. A complete slab is
not present but one piece measures 272mm wide and 80mm thick
2.6 Stone
There is a small sample of stone including fragments
of oolitic limestone, sandstone and millstone grit. Some fragments are large enough to be roof tile.
3.0 Medieval material
Medieval forms present include: peg tile, plain roof
tile (where the method of suspension is not apparent, but it could be peg or
nib), plain glazed floor tile, crested ridge tile, and ridge or curved tile,
and brick
4.0 Post
medieval material
Pan tile is present.
Its earliest date is the 17th century, but the fragments observed are
machine made, and no earlier than the 19th century in date. There are a few fragments of sewer
pipe. Brick is also present, some of
which are worn and have been used as flooring
5.0 Discussion
There is a considerable amount of material from a
relatively small area. Notably, many of
the fragments are overfired, if not vitrified.
Added to this, there is material that may have come from kilns, such as
large clay slabs. There is little in
the way of sooting on the flue tiles or mortar on the tile. If the material had been used in buildings
there would be a great deal of mortar adhering to all of the forms
present. The site is close to suspected
kilns of both the 6th and 9th legions, and it is reasonable to suggest that
this is fragmentary material dumped from these kilns. Excavations between 1970 and 1973 in the garden of the Borthwick
Institute close to the site revealed three heaps of debris, and it was
postulated that these dumps had been deposited in the clay pits serving the
kilns (King, 1975, 213). It may be that
this site is a continuation of the claypits and dumping. A study of the area’s topography might throw
light on the likelihood of this.
The amount of the material and the variety of forms
will add substantially to the study of Roman Ceramic building material in the
City. This is obviously military
material, and the chance to record the fabrics and forms should be taken to
provide a basis for further study of Roman material.
Further close study of the material, including
identification of fabric, and close integration with the stratigraphic data may further illuminate the deposition
processes. For example, a preliminary
observation is that the 6th legion tile stamps seem to have been deposited
before the 9th legion stamps. Does this
mean that this was primarily 6th legion dump, with 9th legion debris being
deposited during further clearance of the area?
4.0 Recommendations
This sample can usefully contribute to the study of the
Roman tile and pottery production in this area of the city. It is recommended that further work is
carried out on this sample, including:
- completion of washing of the material
- full recording of the sample (including weighing,
identification of form, identification of fabrics, measurement of
dimensions). This would lead to the
creation of a detailed research archive, and facilitate the safe disposal of
part of the sample, thereby cutting down on the costs of storage.
- submission of kiln material to specialist
- further study of the tile stamps and graffiti,
including drawing and photographs, and final identification. ‘Britannia’ should be notified for inclusion
in the Roman Inscriptions section.
- submission of the stone sample to geologist for
identification
- publication of results, integrated with the site
report.
Bibliography
Betts, I M, 1985,
‘A scientific investigation of the brick and tile industry of York to
the mid eighteenth century ‘, University of Bradford, Unpublished PhD
Crowley, N, 1992, ‘Building material’ IN Cowan C ‘A
possible mansio in Roman Southwark: excavation at 15-23 Southwark St
1980-1986’, Transaction of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, Vol
43, 1992, 144-157
King, E, 1975,
‘Roman kiln material from the Borthwick Institute, Peaseholm Green: a
report for York Excavation Group’ IN Addyman, P V ‘Excavation in York 1972-73:
first interim report’, Antqiuaries Journal LIV pt 11 (1975)
31.12.96
KEY
Crested = Medieval ridge tile
Curved = Medieval roof tile
Half box = Flue tile
Imbrex = Roman roof tile
Op sig = Opus signinum, Roman mortar
Pan = Post medieval roof tile
Peg = Medieval roof tile
Plain = Medieval roof tile which could be peg tile or
nib tile
Plain glazed floor tile = Medieval-post medieval floor
tile
Ridge = Medieval roof tile
Roman Brick = unidentifiable forms, which may be
fragments of roof tile or brick
Tegula = Roman roof tile
Tegula mammata = Wall tile, with clay bosses which
serve as keying or spacers
Context Form/s Date
u/s Daub/kiln
material (as per 3137) Roman
WB41 ?Tegula,
Roman brick, Tegula, daub [unwashed] Roman
1024 Plain
(burnt), Roman brick 13th
1026 Tegula, Scored half box, Roman brick, Plain 13th+
1027 Roman
brick, tegula Roman
1028 Roman
brick, Imbrex, Roman brick (sooted) Roman
1029 Roman
brick Roman
1030 Roman
brick Roman
1031 Daub/fired
clay (organic), Roman brick Roman
1033 Roman
brick (overfired) Roman
1034 Roman
brick Roman
1036 Roman
brick Roman
1038 Roman
brick, Sewer pipe 19th+
1039 Roman
brick (overfired), Tegula Roman
1040 Roman
brick Roman
1052 ?Tegula
(with pawprints), Roman brick, Imbrex Roman
1055 Roman
brick Roman
2002 Plain
glazed floor tile, Roman brick (overfired), Plain,
Imbrex,
Tegula (with signature), Tegula, Tegula (very
overfired),
Daub/clay lump, ?Plain, Plain 14th+
2003 Roman
brick, Tegula, Imbrex, Combed box flue, ?Tegula
mammata, ?Plain glazed floor tile, Combed box flue
(overfired),
Roman brick (reused), Combed box flue
(with
mortar), ?Combed wall tile, Roman brick
(?underfeed),
Plain, Modern brick, Daub 19th+
2004 ?Tegula
(mis-fired), Roman brick, Tegula (overfired),
?Imbrex
(overfired),
Daub, Tegula, Brick ?14th+
2005 Roman
brick, Tegula, Imbrex, Clay lump/daub, Roman brick
(overfired), Imbrex (overfired), Tegula (with 2 arc
signature) Roman
2022 Roman
brick Roman
2023 Tegula,
Roman brick Roman
2024 Roman brick, Daub/Kiln material Roman
2025 Roman
brick, Imbrex Roman
2030 ?Tegula,
Roman brick, Tegula, Imbrex Roman
2036 Roman
brick Roman
2037 Daub/kiln
material, Roman brick, Roman brick (overfired)
Tegula,
Combed box flue e2nd+
2038 Tegula,
Roman brick, Imbrex Roman
2063 Roman
brick, ?Plain ?13th+
2088 /21\
Tile stamp (9th legion) 1st-e2nd
2118 /24\
Tile stamp (9th legion) 1st-e2nd
2131 Roman
brick (vitrified), Roman brick, Daub Roman
2139 Tegula Roman
2160 ?Plain ?13th+
2166 Roman
brick Roman
2167 Roman
brick Roman
2177 Tegula,
?Daub Roman
2178 Roman
brick Roman
2188 Tegula Roman
2189 Roman
brick, Roman brick (burnt), Tegula Roman
2191 Roman
brick, Tegula, Combed box flue, Tegula (burnt)
Roman
brick (overfired) e2nd+
2192 Tegula,
Roman brick, Roman brick (with mortar),
Oolitic
limestone
(?burnt) Roman
2197 Tegula,
Roman brick Roman
3003 Tegula,
Roman brick (with paw print), Imbrex,
Roman brick
(overfired) Roman
3004 Imbrex,
Roman brick, Tegula, Roman brick (vitrified), ?Box flue
Imbrex
(with raindrops), Roman brick (rounded edges) Roman
3005 Imbrex
(overfired), ?Plain, Roman brick, Clay lump, Roman
brick
(overfired) ?13th+
3006 Roman
brick, Imbrex, Tegula (vitrified), Roman brick (vitrified) Roman
3007 Roman
brick, Imbrex, Tegula (vitrified), Roman brick (vitrified) Roman
3010 Pan
(reused) 17th+
3011 Pan,
Modern brick, ?Combed box flue 19th+
3013 Post
Medieval brick 16th+
3014 Pan,
Modern brick (worn/flooring), Peg 19th+
3015 Post
Medieval brick, Plain 16th+
3016 Pan,
?Plain 17th+
3017 Post
Medieval brick 16th+
3020 Medieval
brick, Post medieval brick 16th+
3022 Medieval
brick, Post medieval brick, Plain, Medieval brick
(burnt) 16th+
3023 Medieval
(or later) brick 14th+
3033 Modern
brick (worn/flooring), Plain, Roman brick, Sewer pipe 19th+
3035 Plain,
Modern brick, ?Plain glazed floor tile 19th+
3039 Plain,
Modern brick, 19th+
3041 Plain 14th+
3042 Roman
brick Roman
3044 Plain 13th+
3058 Plain
(reused) 13th+
3060 Imbrex, Medieval brick 14th-15th
3061 Medieval
brick 14th-15th
3063 Tegula,
Imbrex, Box flue (?overfired), Finger-smoothed box
flue,
Tegula (2 arc signature), Roman brick (overfired)
Half
box, Imbrex (overfired), Roman brick, Box flue Roman
3064 Medieval
(or later) brick 14th+
3065 Plain,
Combed box flue 14th+
3067 ?Plain,
Roman brick, Combed box flue, Finger-smoothed
box
flue ?13th+
3068 Roman
brick (overfired), Roman brick Roman
3069 Tegula,
Roman brick, Imbrex, Roman brick (vitrified), Roman
brick
(burnt) Roman
3070 Tegula,
Roman brick (vitrified), Pan, Imbrex, Tegula (with
hobnail
impressions) 17th+
3071 Tegula,
?Imbrex, Tegula (overfired), Imbrex Roman
3073 Peg,
Tegula 13th+
3075 Imbrex,
Plain, Roman brick (vitrified) 14th+
3076 Tegula
(burnt), Imbrex, Scored half box, Tegula, Roman brick Roman
3077 Tegula,
Roman brick Roman
3078 Roman
brick Roman
3082 Tegula,
Imbrex, Roman brick (vitrified), Imbrex (with
pawprint),
Imbrex (vitrified), Roman brick (with mortar
on
broken edge), Tegula (with mortar), Imbrex, Imbrex
(with
mortar), Roman brick (with pawprint of goat or
sheep)
, Tile stamp (?6th legion) ?e2nd+
3083 Imbrex,
Tegula Roman
3090 Roman
brick Roman
3094 Plain,
?Ridge, Tegula 13th+
3100 Charcoal,
Sandstone, Roman brick (vitrified),
Roman
brick, Imbrex, Tegula, Plain, Daub/Kiln
material 13th+
3101 Plain,
Daub/Kiln material (organic 13th+
3103 Roman
brick, Combed ?box flue, Plain 13th+
3106 Tegula,
Finger-smoothed box flue (vitrified), Roman brick,
Combed
box flue, Tegula, Tegula (poorly fired),
Tegula
(overfired)
e2nd+
3107 Roman
brick (vitrified) , Box flue, Imbrex, Tegula, Roman brick
Sandstone
(?roof tile), ?Tegula Roman
3108 Tegula,
Roman brick, ?Kiln material, Sandstone (?roof tile),
Roman
brick (with finger smoothed keying), Scored box
flue
(burnt) Roman
3109 Sandstone
(?roof tile), Tegula, ?Kiln material (finger
smoothed),
Box flue, Roman brick Roman
3110 Tegula
(with ?mortar on broken edge), Roman brick, Tegula Roman
3111 Box
flue, Roman brick Roman
3112 Roman
brick, Roman brick (vitrified) Roman
3113 Tegula Roman
3114 Roman
brick (overfired) Roman
3115 ?Tegula
(vitrified), Roman brick, Box flue, Imbrex, Roman
brick
(vitrified), Op sig Roman
3116 Roman
brick, Imbrex (vitrified), Combed ?box flue, Imbrex
Tegula, Tegula (vitrified), Scored
box flue, Roman
brick
(vitrified) e2nd+
3117 ?Box
flue, Imbrex, Roman brick Roman
3118 Roman
brick, Tegula, Imbrex, Daub, Sandstone,
?Combed
wall tile, Scored box flue, Combed box flue,
Box
flue, Imbrex (vitrified), Finger-smoothed box flue,
Mortar e2nd+
3119 Daub/kiln
material, Roman brick Roman
3120 Combed
box flue (sooted inner), Daub/Kiln material (organic),
Roman
brick (vitrified), Roman brick, Roman brick
(overfired),
Combed box flue, Tegula, Imbrex, Tile stamp
(6th
legion) e2nd+
3121 Tegula,
Plain, Peg 13th+
3122 Imbrex Roman
3124 Box
flue, Scored box flue, Roman brick (overfired) Roman
3126 Roman
brick Roman
3127 Roman
brick/kiln material (organic) Roman
3128 [unwashed]
Roman brick, Daub/kiln material (organic),
Modern
brick (worn/flooring) 19th+
3129 [unwashed]
Daub/kiln material (organic), Roman brick,
Tegula, Roman brick (overfired) Roman
3134 Sandstone
(?roof tile), Imbrex, Tegula, Roman
brick,
Daub/Kiln material (organic), Combed box
flue e2nd+
3135 Daub/Kiln
material (organic), Tegula Roman
3136 Tegula,
Roman brick, Imbrex e2nd+
3137 Plain,
Combed box flue, Tegula, Roman brick, Sandstone
(?roof
tile), Daub/kiln material, Tegula (with hobnails),
?Kiln
furniture (flat piece) 14th+
3138 Tegula,
Imbrex Roman
3140 Imbrex Roman
3141 Tegula,
Roman brick Roman
3142 Roman
brick, Imbrex, Roman brick (overfired), Box flue
Combed
box flue, Fired clay/daub, Tegula , Roman
brick
(with finger smoothed keying), Roman brick
(vitrified),
Scored half box, Peg, Tegula (with dog
paw
print, Limestone (slab), Tile stamp (?) 13th+
3143 Tegula,
Roman brick, Tegula (with signature), ?Box flue,
Scored
half box, Imbrex, Combed box flue e2nd+
3144 Combed
box flue, Imbrex, Roman brick, Tegula, Scored half
box,
Scored half box (overfired), Roman brick
(overfired),
Tegula (overfired), Box flue, /343\ Tile stamp
(6th
legion) e2nd+
3145 Tegula,
Tegula (vitrified), Scored half box, Tegula (with
signature),
Combed box flue, Roman brick, Imbrex,
Daub/Kiln
material (organic) e2nd+
3146 Tegula,
Roman brick, Scored half box (overfired), Box flue,
Imbrex,
Daub/Kiln material (organic), Roman brick (with
a
rusticated surface), Roman brick (vitrified), Tegula (with
2
or 3 arc signature) Roman
3147 Roman
brick, Tegula (overfired), Tegula with signature,
Scored
half box, Imbrex, Combed box flue, Roman brick/
kiln
material (organic), Limestone (?roofing), Tile stamp
(9th
legion) e2nd+
3148 Roman
brick, Scored half box, Tegula, Roman brick (overfired)
Box
flue, Daub/kiln material, Imbrex, Roman
brick (with
finger-smoothed
keying), Op sig Roman
3149 Roman
brick, Tegula, Imbrex, Roman brick (with finger-
smoothed
keying), Scored half box Roman
3150 Imbrex,
Tile stamp (?6th legion), Roman brick,
Combed box flue,
Tegula,
Mortar, Roman brick (vitrified), Daub (vitrified), Scored half box, Daub,
Tegula (with 3-arc signature), Box
flue,
Roman brick (with finger-smoothed keying), Roman
brick,
with nailhole e2nd+
3151 Plain,
Tegula, Imbrex, Box flue 13th+
3153 Roman
brick Roman
3156 Combed
box flue (overfired) Roman
3157 Imbrex,
Roman brick, Tegula, Combed box flue, Daub/Kiln
material
Tile stamp (6th legion) e2nd+
3158 Plain,
Peg, Plaster 13th+
3160 ?Tegula
(with dog pawprint), Combed box flue e2nd+
3161
Tegula, Combed ?box flue, Roman brick (vitrified),
Imbrex, Box flue,
Scored half box, Combed box flue, Mortar,
Tegula
(with ‘v’ signature), Tegula (overfired),
Millstone
grit, Limestone (?roof tile), Mortar, Tile
stamp
x 2 (6th legion), Tile stamp (9th legion) e2nd+
3162 Tegula,
Combed box flue, Imbrex, Roman brick, Box flue,
Op
sig e2nd+
3163 Tegula,
Imbrex (vitrified), Combed box flue, Imbrex e2nd+
3164 Roman
brick, Tegula, Roman brick (with finger smoothed
keying) Roman
3165 Imbrex,
Roman brick (with finger-smoothed keying), Combed
box
flue, Tile stamp (6th legion) e2nd+
3166 Roman
brick, Scored half box
3167 Roman
brick, ?Tegula (with pawprint), Roman brick (with finger
smoothed
keying), Tegula, Combed box flue, /348\
Tile
stamp
(6th legion) e2nd+
3168 Tegula,
Imbrex, Roman brick (with keying), Combed box flue,
/3156\
Tile stamp (?), /351\ Tile stamp (6th legion), /352\
Tile
stamp (6th legion), /353\ Tile stamp (6th legion),
/354\ Tile stamp (6th
legion), /355\ Tile stamp (6th legion),
Tile stamp (6th legion, with graffiti) e2nd+
3169 Roman
brick, ?Tegula, Plain 13th+
3170 Roman
brick (with 2 arc signature) Roman
3171 Roman
brick Roman
3172 Tegula,
Box flue, Plain, Combed box flue 13th+
3174 Roman
brick, Crested ridge, ?Plain, Daub/kiln material (vitrified),
?Imbrex,
Green glazed ?ridge/curved 13th+
3175 Mortar ?Roman
3176 Box
flue, Combed box flue e2nd+
3177 Imbrex,
Roman brick, Roman brick (vitrified), Combed box flue,
Clay
ball e2nd+
3178 Tegula,
Roman brick, Combed box flue e2nd+
3179 Roman brick, Combed box flue, Imbrex