Scanned image of watercolour drawing illustrating an assortment of five artefacts, including two sherds of Samian ware from unidentified excavations by John Nicolson or Sir Francis Tress Barry..
SC 876699
Description Scanned image of watercolour drawing illustrating an assortment of five artefacts, including two sherds of Samian ware from unidentified excavations by John Nicolson or Sir Francis Tress Barry..
Date c. 1890 to 1920
Collection Papers of John Nicolson, antiquarian, Keiss, Caithness, Scotland
Catalogue Number SC 876699
Category On-line Digital Images
Scope and Content Watercolour of Roman pottery, a clay vessel, a ring and a bone needle from brochs, Caithness, Highland There are a considerable number of brochs on the north-east coast of Caithness, many of which were investigated by Sir Francis Tress Barry (1825-1907), who purchased the Keiss estate in 1881. Between 1890 and 1904, Barry spent his summer months excavating as many as 25 sites, including a number of brochs. This watercolour by John Nicolson (1843-1934) shows two pieces of Roman Samian pottery, a small clay vessel or thumb pot (top left), a ring (bottom right) and a bone needle. The Roman pottery indicates that the inhabitants of the area had access to prestigious and exotic goods. The small thumb pot's function is uncertain: perhaps it was used for holding pigment. Nicolson was born in Stemster, John O' Groats, and lived at Nybster for most of his life. He was a skilled sculptor and artist with a keen interest in the archaeology of the area and assisted with many of Barry's excavations. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.
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