Ceramic workshops in the Roman world

A research project proposal

TS workshop unit at Rheinzabern
TS workshop unit at Rheinzabern
(after Hissnauer, Werkstattbereich 3. Jh. [2014])
Dear Colleagues,

Bearing in mind the many detailed comments to the post “Clay preparation units” we are delighted to present to you our idea for a research project concerning the infrastructure of the Roman ceramic workshops. The aim of this project is to study in detail the various production facilities used for the manufacture of ceramic items throughout the Empire.

Our proposition is to divide the possible research topics into three groups in accordance with the specific type of information which is to be gathered and analysed.

The OCK Database

Users of the OCK database of potters’ stamps on Italian terra sigillata will know that it is increasingly difficult – if not impossible – to run this old Paradox program on newer versions of Windows.
The best solution appeared to be to find a web-platform for the database, and in 2011 I was offered the opportunity for it to be incorporated within the databases hosted by the Oxford Roman Economy Project. Unfortunately, this has proved more challenging than expected and it has not come to fruition.
Please be assured that I still have an urgent interest in this and am seeking other solutions! In the mean time, while I am still intending to make further revisions/additions to the catalogue, it is obviously more important to bring the 2000 edition back into a more usable state.