Roman Terracotta: Terracotta Roof Tile Fragment

Inv. No.: 85.002
Provenance: Caerleon (Romano-British)
Date: 2nd century AD
Height: 75mm
Length: 126mm
Depth: 30 mm
 
A fragment of a terracotta roof tile stamped with the following inscription: LEG II AUG. The piece is roughly rectangular in shape with one straight side, part of the original tile edge, and three more irregular edges. The stamp is positioned obliquely with respect to the straight edge. The letters are raised and worn and positioned within an ansate frame although the lower left-hand corner of the stamped impression is missing. The central rectangular section of the stamp measures 70 x 28 mm. The clay is orange-red in colour and fine in texture except for one large, dark-red pebble inclusion. The upper surface of the fragment is smooth while the underneath is rough.

Function:
A fragment from a flat tile, probably part of a flanged tegula, used as part of tiled Roman roof.

Manufacture:
The rough underside and smooth upper surface of this fragment indicates the method of manufacture whereby damp clay was pressed into a frame mould and excess clay was removed from the upper surface, perhaps using a wire cutter. After stamping at the leather hard stage, the tile was allowed to dry out and then fired in a kiln.

Bibliography:
Frere, S. S. and R. S. O. Tomlin (eds.), The Roman Inscriptions of Britain, Volume II, Fascicule 4, 1992, 125-147.

Holder, P. A., The Roman Army in Britain, London, B. T. Batsford, 1982.

McWhirr, A. (ed.), Roman Brick and Tile: Studies in Manufacture, Distribution and Use in the Western Empire, BAR International Series 68, 1979.

McWhirr, A. and D. Viner, "The Production and Distribution of Tiles in Roman Britain with particular reference to the Cirencester Region", Britannia, 9 (1978), 359-377.

Comparanda:
Collingwood, R. G. and R. P. Wright, The Roman Inscriptions of Britain, Volume II, Fascicule 4, 1992, 2459.1-2459.72, especially 2459.14.