ROMAN POTTERY FROM MATCHING, ESSEX 347
Roman Pottery from Matching, Essex
By L. S. Harley
Early in 1966, Mr E. Saunders left with me the piece of
potsherd illustrated.
It was described as having been found "in a ditch at the edge
of Brick-kiln Wood, at Matching, in September, 1965''. The delay
in this report is due to my attempts to obtain a more precise
description of the find-spot, but I am unable to quote map
co-ordinates, or depth, although presumably when found it was
on the surface.
The pottery is of good quality "Samian" without any potter's
stamp, and is clearly the base of a Roman 'patera' or shallow dish.
It is probably of mid-second century, say 140a.d., and its presence
may indicate that a Roman Villa existed not far away.
My thanks are due to Mr. Saunders for bringing this find to
my attention.
Figure 1. Potsherd found at Matching.