Wiltshire Post-Roman Pottery Type Series Project Nears Completion

Posted On: December 20th, 2025

A 17th-century waster from Crockerton, photo by Harvey Hills

A project to create a type series of post-Roman pottery for Wiltshire (AD 400 to 1700) is coming to an end. 

Funded by Historic England, and one of several similar projects taking place across England, this project has been managed by Cotswold Archaeology and carried out by Alejandra Gutiérrez and Lorraine Mepham. 

The type series consists of sample sherds of pottery found (but not necessarily made) within the county, and an accompanying database with descriptions of wares and fabrics. It includes, for example, Saxon handmade wares, medieval Laverstock wares from the Salisbury area and post-medieval slip-decorated earthenwares made in Crockerton, 

The database will be free to use online through the Archaeological Data Service. The physical type series will be delivered to the Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, in February, where it can be consulted free of charge by pottery specialists, community groups, and anybody interested in post-Roman pottery in the county. The use of the type series will be included by Wiltshire County Council in the guidance issued for archaeological work in the county. 

The project would not have been possible without the continued support of Wiltshire Museum and Salisbury Museum, who facilitated access to their collections.