Samian Dish

Life and death in Pontes, Roman Staines – a Samian dish found in a grave. This small Samian dish was found in a cremation burial pit from the 2nd century AD and was found upside down over the ashes. The leaf and vine design we see on its rim is called en-barbotine; a clay slip was used to coat the object and create the design. This cremation was found at the Old Police Station in Staines, which is a little way outside of the Roman town, the custom for adult burials.  In addition to this near perfect Samian dish, a pair of beautiful enamelled brooches, a glass dish, a wine flagon and two small glass bottles were also found in the grave. Whoever was buried here was much loved and was buried with treasured objects for the afterlife. All of these items are on display in Spelthorne Museum. Many thanks to the student volunteers from Royal Holloway College for their work on this model.