ABSTRACT

The prehistoric pottery was recovered mostly from five site locations: Buddle/Bassecastel, Church Field, Shapwick villa, Sladwick, and north of Shapwick House, as well as from three other sites in the village. This chapter examines the general principles of later prehistoric pottery analysis and recording for publication recommended by the Prehistoric Ceramics Research Group and comparative charts provided in those publications should be used for reference. A preliminary scan of the pottery indicated that while basic macroscopic identification of pottery fabrics was possible, assignment of sherds to broad pottery dates based on fabrics alone would be unwise without recourse to thin sectioning and petrological analysis using a polarizing microscope. The majority of pottery which did survive later occupation turned out to have been non-local in origin groups. Dating has been very tenuous for many features and impossible for others. At best the pottery is giving an indication that there was activity at certain times at certain locations.