Ebook: The Roman Small Finds from Excavations in Colchester 1971-9

With contributions from D. G. Buckley, Philip Crummy, Elizabeth Fowler, Patricia Galloway, Stephen Greep, Mark Hassall, Martin Henig, Hilary Major, Graham Webster, and J. P. Wild.

Published 1983 by Colchester Archaeological Trust. Reprinted 1995.

This report, the second in the series entitled 'Colchester Archaeological Reports', deals with the Roman small finds from excavations and watching briefs undertaken in Colchester between 1971 and 1979 by the Colchester Archaeological Trust (formerly Colchester Excavation Committee). The examination of the small finds was begun in spring 1976 and the Roman section was completed in autumn 1981. The work has had to be done largely without the benefit of the definitive site phasing. The small finds, with full archival details, are in the Colchester and Essex Museum.

In all, more than 14,800 small finds of all periods were recorded during nine years of continuous excavations. In order to deal with such a large number of objects, the classification and methods of recording and storing small finds have been refined over the years. The methods now in use in Colchester are described in some detail in the hope that they may be of some help to finds assistants elsewhere. Indeed, it is hoped that this volume will prove to be a useful guide for finds assistants as a small finds report embracing samples of most types of object likely to be found on Roman sites.