Fragment of samian ware tableware

This pottery sherd from expensive Roman tableware was found at a native broch settlement at Keiss in Caithness. It was a valuable Roman object, probably passed from one native chief to another, ending up miles from the Roman frontier.

The surface of the sherd has been worn smooth, perhaps from later reuse as a polisher.

Powerful local chieftains controlled contact with the Romans, keeping most of the Roman objects and passing some onto their followers. The Roman objects provided valuable raw materials, and were often reused for other purposes.

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