Excavations ahead of The Liberty development in Southwark have revealed a wealth of Roman archaeology which has made headlines across the world. In their latest blog, MOLA Senior Roman Pottery Specialist Charlotte Burn explores evidence for writing and a possible administrative presence on and around the site.

One pottery object found during both our excavations and those in the 1980s, are Samian inkwells. These are not the most common Samian objects – usually we find cups, bowls and dishes or plates. This means Samian inkwells are a significant find in pottery assemblages from Roman Londinium and Southwark. Samian inkwells are associated with the use of carbon ink, which was made from ground charcoal, on wood leaf tablets. This is a method of writing which we think was widely available at the time – and cheaper than other writing technology.

These inkwells were made in Gaul (modern day France) and imported into Roman Britain through port towns such as Londinium. We uncovered sherds from five Samian inkwells during our recent excavations at the Liberty – and some still have ink-staining on the inside. 

One of these fragments also has at least three ‘X’s in a row scored into the external surface. While graffiti on Samian ware is not unusual, graffiti on an inkwell is.

This carving was done after the vessel was fired. We know this because the marks cut through the slip, which the pot was dipped into before firing. Graffiti ‘X’s are sometimes thought to be ownership marks, possibly from people who were illiterate. However, that would make this particular graffiti quite ironic, as it is scored onto a piece of equipment associated with writing. 

Other interpretations include that the 3 ‘X’s represent the number 30 in Roman numerals (although the piece is broken near the graffiti so there may have been more!). Perhaps this was a way of counting three sets of ten, or maybe someone was counting how many inkwells they had handed out, so they knew to collect the same number back in! Inkwell distribution across Londinium suggests that ink writing in the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD was fairly widespread. This might make the interpretation of the number 30 – or higher – more likely.

What is particularly interesting about the presence of the Samian inkwells, is that they were not the only vessels associated with writing found at The Liberty. We have also recovered are the lids or tops of at least three copper-alloy inkwells, which broadly date to between the 1st – 3rd century AD.

Read more here: Ink-redible finds from Roman Southwark | MOLA

Main Image – inkwell fragments from the site. Image: MOLA