ROMAN POTTERY FOUND IN BRITAIN. 
35 
5. Fragment of a large wide-mouthed Olla, with a rude 
representation of human face (nearly complete) upon the 
shoulder. 
The outside edge of the rim is ornamented with two square cut mouldings 
notched across and carefully finished. At the joining of the neck and shoulder 
are two round mouldings or cordons. Of two small three-ribbed handles of 
square section one only is preserved. The eyes and lips are represented by 
bosses of clay slit across with a knife. The ear is also an applied strip of clay. 
The eye-brows are similarly formed, but suggest goat-horns,—those of the god 
Pan. The nose and chin are simply out-pressed from the inside. 
The body is of hard grey clay, without glaze, but well polished. 
9. Vessels ornamented with Frilled Cordons. ‘ Incense 
Bowls.’ 
These frequently form part of the furniture of cremation graves 
both in Britain and on the Continent. Sets of four are sometimes 
found in one grave, and they were doubtless regarded as of some 
use or significance for the future welfare of the departed. 
Riese, Hedd. Mitteil., IV., p. 28, plate V., 10, 12. A.D. 90—150 ; 
Welcker, Ibid., p. 140, plate XXI., 15, 17. A.D. 133—200. 
Colchester Mus. contains numerous examples. 
Guildhall Mus. Cat., plate XLI., 7. 
Walters, Cat., liii., M 2750—2756, 2860. 
Kocnen, pp. 98—99, XV., 25—29, mentions their frequent, 
occurrence in the time of the Antonines, A.D. 140—190. Their 
prototype is supposed to have been found at Priene. Wiegand 
and Schrader, Pviene, p. 279, fig. 287. 
Examples, already with the wavy band round the lip, which 
was retained for centuries, and precludes their use for drinking 
purposes, are recorded at Haltern, which dates from B.C. n to 
A.D. 9. Loeschcke, Haltevn V., p. 213, Abb. 19, type 37. 
Among the earliest of known date found in Britain is the 
fragment belonging to the Flavian period found at Newstead 
(op. cit., p. 52), A.D. 69—96. 
Their intended purpose is still in dispute, some authorities 
being of opinion that they were used, as their name implies, for 
burning incense at the funeral pyre during cremation ; others that 
they were for containing offerings of food or wine, or for pouring 
libations. Riese (op. cit., p. 28), points out their resemblance to 
the medieval ‘ grease pots,’ and suggests that they may have been 
lamps or candle-sticks (a sort of ‘ night light ’ possibly), since 
