Pottery production at Roman Corbridge: Its character, scale and significance

Project summary

This project will investigate the role of Corbridge as a centre of ceramic production and supply within the Roman northern frontier zone, addressing long-standing questions about how pottery was manufactured, distributed and consumed at this strategically important site. Although large quantities of ceramic material and potters’ stamps indicate local production, the organisation and extent of manufacture remain poorly understood due to the absence of identified kilns and limited fabric characterisation. Using a combination of ceramic petrography, X-ray fluorescence analysis, geological comparison and reassessment of legacy excavation and survey data, the project will identify production fabrics, establish clay provenance and develop a clearer typology of locally produced wares. This will provide new evidence for the organisation of craft activity and economic networks along the Roman frontier.

The project will create a robust analytical framework for understanding ceramic production and distribution at Corbridge, while developing a transferable approach for investigating craft economies and supply systems across Roman frontier landscapes more widely. By combining archaeological evidence with advanced scientific analysis, the research will clarify how communities produced, exchanged and used ceramics within a complex military and commercial environment. The findings will significantly enhance understanding of Roman economic organisation, mobility and connectivity in Britain and beyond.