Anglo‐Saxon Style Pottery from the Northern Netherlands and North‐Western Germany: Fabrics and Finish, Regional and Chronological Patterns, and their Implications

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study of Anglo‐Saxon style pottery in the northern Netherlands and north‐western Germany, involving macroscopic and microscopic analysis of fabrics and finish. Both regions show similar developments in form and decoration in the pottery of the fourth and fifth centuries ad, the late Roman and Migration period, resulting in the typical decoration and shapes that are known as the Anglo‐Saxon style. In the northern Netherlands, this style is traditionally associated with Anglo‐Saxon immigrants. It has, however, been suggested that this style was, rather, part of an indigenous development in areas in the northern Netherlands where occupation was continuous, though influenced by stylistic developments in north‐western Germany. That hypothesis is supported by the analysis of fabrics and finish presented here. The characteristic of fabrics and surface treatment indicate technological continuity. The use of local clay sources for Anglo‐Saxon style pottery and for contemporary regional types indicates that most of the Anglo‐Saxon style pottery in the northern Netherlands was not brought by Anglo‐Saxon immigrants or as imports, but must have been made locally. That applies to settlements with continuous habitation, as well as settlements in the coastal area that were not inhabited during the fourth century ad.

The Chronology of Anglo‐saxon Style Pottery in Radiocarbon Dates: Improving the Typo‐chronology

“…Wijnaldum-Tjitsma 6438/6451), where sherds of several complete G7 and HS-pots together formed the pavement of a hearth, representing a single event (Taayke forthcoming). A gradual transition of G7 to HS is supported by the gradual change from finer to coarser fabrics (Krol et al 2018).…”

“…A gradual transition of G7 to HS is supported by the gradual change from finer to coarser fabrics (Krol et al . 2018).…”

“…HS developed from the fine fabrics of ASSP and type G7. A minority of HS still has fine fabrics (Van Es 1979;Nieuwhof 2013, 61;Krol et al 2018), and ASSP-decoration is occasionally still found on HS pots. In Germany, HS is usually dated to the seventh or eighth centuries (Stilke 2001).…”

“…The pottery of the fourth and fifth centuries in the northern Netherlands and north‐western Germany is not only very alike on a stylistic level, but also technologically, with high‐quality fabrics and finish (Krol et al . 2018). Nevertheless, there are regional stylistic differences (for instance: Genrich 1954; Myres 1969; Schmid 1981).…”

The Frisians and their Pottery: Social Relations before and after the Fourth Century AD

“…That is certainly the case with pottery. The pottery of the newcomers often cannot be distinguished from the locally developed pottery, not even on the basis of fabrics (Krol et al 2018). Stylistic elements might provide, at least in theory, a clue to their origins.…”