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BREAD OVENS
by Experimental Archaeologist/Master Potter Graham Taylor
I built the bread oven shown in these photographs at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend in 2006.  It is based on examples which have been excavated on sites in the North-East of England and Southern Scotland, being constructed from clay over a willow frame.  The principals of baking bread in a wood fired "Black Oven  changed little from the Iron-Age to the Post Medieval Period.  The crackle of the fire and the smell of woodsmoke and baking bread combine to evoke the atmosphere of past times. 
Roman bread from the Segedunum Oven
Bread in Roman Oven at Segedunum
Roman bread from the Segedunum wood fired bread oven
Segedunum wood fired Roman bread oven
Roman bread in the Segedunum wood fired bread oven