AMPULLA

An incomplete cast lead pilgrim ampulla of Medieval, thirteenth to fifteenth century date (AD 1200 – AD 1500). This is one of very few pilgrim souvenirs that can be assigned an origin in the Holy Land itself, from the discovery of an ampulla mould with similar motifs at a workshop in Akko, Israel (Danny Syon, pers. comm.). Length 54.0mm, width 39mm, maximum thickness of body 9.6mm. Weight 60.92g. The weight may include some soil within the body. In plan, the ampulla has a circular body. The neck is incomplete and the mouth is missing. Two suspension lugs, one at either side of the neck, are also missing. However, the stub at the lower end of one of the loops has survived. The body is stoutly made and has particularly thick walls. The edges are bevelled and are decorated with raised diagonal hatching, a common decorative feature on ampullae. One side has raised decoration in the form of a six-pointed “compass-drawn” flower (sexfoil) enclosed within a plain circle which is 24.0mm in diameter. The petals are identical and lanceolate-shaped. Each outer point of the petal is joined by an arching line. The other side also has raised decoration which depicts a fleur-de-lis motif. The petals and stalk emanate from a central pellet and the stem flares outwards at its base. The area between each side petal and the stem is filled with cross-hatching (less conspicuous on the left side). The body of the vessel, which has a light grey/creamy patina, is generally in good condition although it has a longitudinal bend and related fracture. The neck is damaged, corroded and has ragged edges. This damage appears to be old but may have been caused by recent ploughing. Another similar ampulla has been recorded from Binsted Parish, Hampshire by Charlotte Burrill, Berkshire & Oxfordshire FLO. See Portable Antiquities Scheme find: BERK-E3B315.