G:\Finds\BM\Fabrics\POST-ROMAN\Post roman roof tile fabrics.doc

Medieval and post-medieval roof tile fabrics

July 2007

NB pantile fabrics are listed separately below

*: occurrence is occurrence in London

Peg and ridge tile

Fabric 2271

Red, reddish-orange, grey core commonly present

Fine fabric, with scatter of muscovite mica (up to 0.05mm), red iron oxide and calcium carbonate (up to 1mm). A small quantity of quartz (up to 0.7mm) usually present

Very common*

Fabric 2272

Reddish-orange, grey core commonly present

Distinct shelly fabric, otherwise like 2273

Rare

Fabric 2273

Reddish-orange, grey core commonly present

Sandy fabric with frequent large quartz (up to 1mm) with varying amounts of calcium carbonate (up to 2mm). Occasional gastropod shells

Very common

Fabric 2274

Brownish-red, some with grey cores

Fine sandy fabric with abundant small quartz (up to 0.3mm) with occasional red and black iron oxide (up to 0.5mm). So-called ‘London ware’ pottery fabric

Fairly rare

Fabric 2276

Red

Similar to fabrics 2271 and 2586 except with fine moulding sanding

Very common

Fabric 2277

Orange-red, some with grey core

Similar to 2271 but characterised by large inclusions scattered through clay matrix

Very rare

Fabric 2278

Light brown, creamy-white, yellow

Fine texture with scatter of quartz (up to 0.8mm). Yellow or red clay bands in some tiles

Fairly rare

Fabric 2537

Brownish-orange

Fine, fairly soft with distinct large white inclusions scattered through the clay matrix. Frequent red iron oxide

Rare

Fabric 2586

Orange, red

Common quartz (up to 0.5mm), a more sandy version of 2271

Very common

Fabric 2587

Orange, red

Fine sandy fabric with frequent quartz (up to 0.2mm). Frequent lighter clay bands and rounded inclusions (up to 5mm) giving a lumpy clay texture. Numerous very small black iron oxide grains (up to 0.05mm) and larger red iron oxide (up to 2mm)

Very common

Fabric 2816

Orange, red

Fine sandy with frequent quartz inclusions (up to 0.3mm), silty streaks and occasional red iron oxide (up to 1mm)

Very common

Fabric 3062

Orange

Common quartz up to 0.3mm. Cream pellets (up to 2.0mm), red clay/iron oxide inclusions (up to 1.0mm) and occasional flint inclusions

Rare

Fabric 3090

Red, orange

Numerous very small black iron oxide grains (up to 0.05mm) (as fabric 2587). Numerous small quartz (up to 0.5mm). Occasional larger red iron oxide and clay inclusions (up to 1.0mm)

Very common

Fabric 3091

Brownish-orange

Fairly frequent quartz (up to 0.5mm) and prominent iron oxide and silty clay inclusions (up to 7mm)

Very rare

Fabric 3094

Orange

Fine sandy fabric with common quartz (up to 0.3mm). Scatter of white calcium carbonate (up to 0.3mm) and red iron oxide (up to 1mm). Occasional very small black iron oxide in the clay matrix (0.01mm)

Fairly common

Fabric 3097

Red, reddish-orange

Common white silty and/or calcium carbonate inclusions (up to 1mm) and occasional cream silty bands. Scatter of quartz and dark red iron oxide (up to 0.8mm)

Rare

Fabric 3201

Orange, pink, cream

Generally fine fabric with common small white and cream silty inclusions (up to 0.2mm) with occasional thin silty bands. A scatter of quartz and black and red iron oxide (up to 0.5mm). Occasional calcium carbonate inclusions (up to 1mm). Sometimes lenses of quartz sand

Fairly rare

Fabric 3204

Orange

Silty fabric with common thin cream and red clay bands, plus common rounded cream inclusions (up to 1mm). Fairly frequent quartz (up to 0.4mm)

Very rare

Fabric 3205

Orange

Numerous cream silty bands and rounded inclusions in orange clay matrix. Common rounded orange clay inclusions (up to 4mm)

Very rare

Fabric 3216

Red, orange

Very fine sandy fabric, with numerous very small quartz (up to 0.05mm) with occasional large grains up to 0.5mm. Common mica (up to 0.05mm). Occasional iron oxide grains up to 3mm

Fairly common

Fabric 3228

Brown

Sandy fabric, as fabric 2273 but with smaller quartz (up to 0.3mm)

Rare

Fabric 3243

Pink, yellow, cream

Scatter of quartz (up to 1mm).occasional white calcium carbonate (up to 0.1mm). Thin red silty lenses in some tiles

Very rare

Fabric 3245

Yellow

Lumpy clay texture with scatter of quartz (up to 0.2mm), white calcium carbonate (up to 2mm) and black iron oxide (up to 3mm)

Very rare

Fabric 3258

Light brown

Common small quartz (up to 0.2mm). Occasional cream silty inclusions (up to 2mm)

Rare

Fabric 3265

Orangey-brown

Scattered small quartz (up to 0.3mm) with occasional larger quartz (up to 1mm)

Rare

Fabric 3273

Orange, brown

Fine silty clay matrix with brown, cream and orange bands. Scatter of rounded cream silty and orange clay inclusions (up to 2mm)

Rare

Pantile fabrics

Fabric 2275

Orange, red

Frequent red and black iron oxide (up to 2mm). Occasional quartz (up to 0.7mm) and white silty bands

Common

Fabric 2279

Orange

Fairly sandy fabric with common medium sized quartz (up to 0.5mm). Scatter of white calcium carbonate and dark red iron oxide (up to 0.3mm)

Fairly rare

Fabric 2587

Same clay source as peg and ridge tile (see above)

Fabric 3085

Pink and light brown

Scatter of red clay inclusions 9up to 5mm0 and small quartz (up to 0.2mm)

Rare

Fabric 3090

Same clay source as peg and ridge tile (see above)

Fabric: 3094

Same clay source as peg and ridge tile (see above)

Fabric 3202

Brownish-orange

Scatter of quartz (up to 0.3mm) and red and black iron oxide (up to 0.8mm)

Fabric 3203

Orangey-brown

White speckled clay matrix with scatter red and black iron oxide (up to 1mm)

Fabric 3225

Orange

Scatter of very small white speckles in silty clay matrix. Scatter of small quartz (up to 0.1mm) and black iron oxide (up to 1mm)

Fabric 3259

Orange

Frequent small quartz (up to 0.2mm) with scatter of red iron oxide and white calcium carbonate (up to 1mm)

Kiln furniture

Fabrics 3233 and 3234 are kiln furniture, but could have been used as building material.

Fabric 3233

Red

Frequent quartz (up to 1mm) with scatter of black iron oxide (up to 0.8mm). Occasional cream silty and orange clay bands

Fabric 3234

Pink, cream

Abundant silty cream rounded inclusions (up to 5mm) and thin bands. Scatter of dark red and black iron oxide (up to 5mm)

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