Tile with footprint - cat

3D Model

Ceramic, England, 43-410AD This is a fragment of a ceramic roof tile. Romans made tiles like this by shaping them, then allowing them to dry in the sun, before firing them in a kiln. During the drying stage they were still vulnerable and occasionally you find one with the impression of footprints from where an animal or child walked across them before they had solidified. In this case, the impression shows cat paw prints, the small size suggesting they may belong to a kitten. The curved line that is also visible is known as a maker’s mark. It was created deliberately by the craftsman running a finger across the damp clay. Model by Historic England Geospatial Survey Team