Members of the Roman Studies Group (RSG) and the Artefacts and Archives Research Group (AARG) are continuing work to identify, catalogue and analyse the tiles from the site.
Gaye & Chris Harris cataloguing tiles
Members of the group are identifying, measuring and weighing the tiles; recording the roller stamped, combed and ‘free hand’ patterning on flue tiles; recording any makers/tally marks and features such as fingerprints and animal paw prints. We are being given expert help and advice by Dr. Ian Betts, Museum of London Archaeology.
In parallel with the cataloguing we are also identifying tile fabrics from the excavations carried out by John Hampton in the 1960s and our more recent excavations from 2006-2008.
Isabel Ellis a using microscope to identify fabrics
Dr. Michael Hughes has been commissioned to take samples from the six known roller stamped flue tile patterns from Ashtead for analysis at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Geoffey Gower-Kerslake selecting tiles suitable for sampling
The analysis will be carried out using Inductively-Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICPS). This is the chemical analysis of ceramics using a high temperature flame (plasma). The results are concentrations of the major elements in the clay by weight percent eg:-
Aluminium Sodium
Potassium Calcium
Magnesium Titanium
+ trace elements
Other tiles from Surrey in the collection of the British Museum are also being sampled to compare with those from Ashtead. The sites are:-
Chatley Farm, Cobham
Purberry Shot and Tayles Hill, Ewell
Farley Heath
Dood's Farm, Reigate
Isleworth
Margaret Broomfield
Co-ordinator
AARG
Aluminium Sodium
Potassium Calcium
Magnesium Titanium
+ trace elements
Other tiles from Surrey in the collection of the British Museum are also being sampled to compare with those from Ashtead. The sites are:-
Chatley Farm, Cobham
Purberry Shot and Tayles Hill, Ewell
Farley Heath
Dood's Farm, Reigate
Isleworth
Margaret Broomfield
Co-ordinator
AARG
