Dales ware facts for kids
Dales ware is a special kind of pottery made a long, long time ago in England. It was crafted in places like South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. This pottery was very popular and traveled far across northern Britain during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. That's about 1,700 to 1,800 years ago!
Contents
What is Dales Ware Pottery?
Where Was Dales Ware Made and Used?
Most Dales ware was made in northern Lincolnshire. But there were other places in Yorkshire where it was also produced. From these workshops, Dales ware was traded and sent northwards. It was especially popular in areas east of the Pennines mountains. You'll most often find Dales ware in the shape of jars.
What is Dales Ware Made Of?
Dales ware is a type of coarseware ceramic. This means it's a bit rough to the touch. It was made by hand, and a special ingredient called shell-temper was added to the clay. This temper is crushed shell, which helped make the pottery stronger.
The pottery usually has a brown-grey color. It often feels rough, but the top part, near the opening, is usually smoothed out. You might even see irregular finger marks on the lower part of the jars, showing they were shaped by hand!
Different Kinds of Dales Ware
There are actually two main types: Dales ware and Dales-type ware. They are very similar but have some differences.
True Dales Ware
This is the original Dales ware. It's handmade and has that rough, brown-grey feel. The rim, which is the opening of the jar, was often shaped using a pottery wheel. This gave it a very distinct look.
Dales-type Ware
This type was identified by an expert named Loughlin. It's similar to Dales ware but has some key differences. Dales-type ware was fired at a higher temperature, making it harder. It also tends to be grey in color.
You'll often find more Dales-type jars than true Dales ware jars. They were very popular, especially in Roman York. People sometimes used these jars as burial urns. This means they held the ashes of people who had passed away.
See also
- Eboracum
- Crambeck Ware
- Ancient Roman Pottery
- List of Romano-British pottery
