Builders dig up ancient Roman pot (From Swindon Advertiser)

Builders dig up ancient Roman pot

8:40pm Sunday 22nd February 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

BUILDERS working on a development in Highworth had a very good reason to stop for a tea break last June, when they found a precious Roman pot.

The pot, which will go to auction on March 6, was found by workers at Northcott Developments when they were digging the foundations of a garage in Cricklade Road.

The pot, which measures 2ft tall by 18 inches wide and has a mouth one foot across, has been valued at between £800 and £1200.

Construction manager Dave Barton, who found the pot, said he knew straight away that they had found something special.

It was definitely more interesting than your average day

Construction manager Dave Barton

He said: “I’m not an expert or anything but you can tell when something is old.

“I knew straight away it was something like a Roman pot.”

The precious artefact was slightly damaged in the unearthing but experts are still impressed by its general good condition.

It is believed to be an crematorium urn andmade in the New Forest in the 2nd or 3rd century.

It was found alongside other Roman artefacts, including a spatula.

The pot has contemporary clay stitching down one side, suggesting it was broken and then mended by its Roman owners.

Cricklade Road was once an important Roman road connecting the Roman towns of Glevum (Gloucester) and Silchester in Hampshire via Corinium (Cirencester).

Dave said: “It was definitely more interesting than your average day.

“The archeolgist came over to check it out, and he was really good – he knew we had to get on with our work so he didn’t take his time but he was definitely very excited by it all.”

Brian Read, director of the company, said: “It is in beautiful condition. Unfortunately it is a little bit damaged where the bucket hit it but it’s still an amazing find.

“We don’t know what to expect from the auction, but they are saying it could get around £1200, so hopefully it will help to fill a much larger pot.”

The pot will be one of the highlights of the selected sale of antiques by auctioneer Moore Allen & Innocent in Cirencester on March 6.

For more information go to www.mooreallen.co.uk.