Black-burnished ware explained

Black-burnished ware is a type of Romano-British ceramic. Burnishing is a pottery treatment in which the surface of the pot is polished, using a hard smooth surface. The classification includes two entirely different pottery types which share many stylistic characteristics. Black burnished ware 1 (BB1), is a black, coarse and gritty fabric. Vessels are hand made. Black burnished ware 2 (BB2) is a finer, grey-coloured, wheel thrown fabric.

Decoration on both types includes burnished lattice or, additionally, in the case of bowls and dishes, a wavy line design. Standard forms across both types include jars with everted rims and bowls with upright or flat flanged rims.

Black Burnished Ware 1

Black Burnished Ware Category 1 (BB1) is made from a clay body that has a coarse texture. The clay body can contain black iron ores, flint, quartz, red iron ores, shale fragments, and white mica.[1] BB1 can be grainy and black or dark gray in appearance. These wares are formed by hand.

BB1 wares were manufactured in the Dorset area and distributed throughout Britain.[2] The distribution of BB1 wares dates primarily to the mid-second to fourth centuries AD. Forms include bowls, dishes, and jars.

Early BB1 influenced Vectis ware.[3]

Black Burnished Ware 2

Black Burnished Ware Category 2 (BB2) is greyer in color and has a finer texture when compared with BB1.[4] It is a “hard, sandy fabric, varying in colour from dark-grey or black with a brown or reddish brown core and a reddish-brown, blue-grey, black or lighter ('pearly grey') surface.”[5] The clay body can contain black iron ore, mica, and quartz, all in a matrix of sediment. These wares are thrown on a fast potter's wheel.

BB2 wares were manufactured on both the Essex and Kent sides of the Thames Estuary.[6] [7] [8] The distribution of BB2 wares occurred from AD 140 through to the mid third century AD in south-east England and the northern part of Britain.

Notes and References

  1. Tyers, P A. "South-east Dorset black-burnished 1." Potsherd. Accessed February 21, 2011. Last modified December 28, 2010. http://potsherd.net/.
  2. Allen . J. R. L. . Fulford . M. G. . The Distribution of South-East Dorset Black Burnished Category I Pottery in South-West Britain . Britannia . 1996 . 27 . 223–281 . 10.2307/527045 . 527045 . 162584757 .
  3. Book: Timby, Jane. Cunliffe . Barry . Barry Cunliffe . 2013 . The Roman Villa at Brading, Isle of Wight: The Excavations of 2008-10 . Material Culture: pottery and fired clay . Oxford School or Archaeology . 192 . 9781905905263.
  4. Book: Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology. 2003. Darvill, T.. 9780192800053.
  5. Tyers, P A. "Black-burnished 2." Potsherd. Accessed February 21, 2011. Last modified December 28, 2010. http://potsherd.net/.
  6. Catherall . P. D. . Pollard . R. J. . Turner . R. C. . Monk . M. A. . A Romano-British Pottery Manufacturing Site at Oakleigh Farm, Higham, Kent . Britannia . 1983 . 14 . 103–141 . 10.2307/526344 . 526344 . 165766913 .
  7. Book: Monaghan, Jason. Upchurch and Thameside Roman Pottery. British Archaeological Reports British Series 173. 1987. Oxford.
  8. Book: Symonds . R. P. . Wade . Sue . Roman Pottery from Excavations in Colchester, 1971-86 . 1999 . Colchester Archaeological Trust . 978-1-897719-07-7 .