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This amazing excavation at Barcombe Mills provides full finds trays of many varied artefacts of Romano-British life and is particularly rich in Roman pottery ranging from local East Sussex Ware cooking pots and jars to high quality decorated Samian bowls and dishes from Central Gaul.

But the archaeologists are beginning to think that at least some of the occupants were having a fairly good time back in the 2nd and 3rd century AD as they keep finding fine-ware beakers and flasks. Many of the beakers are of a bulbous shape with a black colour-coated surface probably produced at the Nene Valley potteries in Cambridgeshire. The current trench has also unexpectedly produced a few virtually complete vessels, including a globular flask; not bad after being in the ground for 1800 years.

Sherds of decorated Samian are always of interest as frequently having designs showing animal and human activity. A large bowl sherd showed a big cat leaping of a boar which in turn leapt over a prostrate man. Another sherd that elicited extra scrutiny was initially taken as possibly depicting gladiators in close combat but when cleaned it revealed a male and female in a more intimate embrace.

A good time had at Bridge Farm Roman Settlement?