MORTAR (VESSEL)

Carved stone mortar of probable medieval or early post medieval date (1250- 1600 AD). The mortar is near complete and broadly circular in plan and sub-rectangular in profile. The mortar itself has been carved from a single block of stone, probably either a coarse limestone or possibly a gritstone. The outer face of the mortar has a large number of small angular dish shaped peck marks present. These are most evident on the lower part of the outer edge and on the large rib shaped lugs. On the edge of the outer face of the mortar are two large ribs which are set at 180° to one another. These ribs extend from the upper edge of the mortar to approximately 1/4 above the base; they are broadly D shaped in cross section and sub-rectangular in profile, the lower edge of each rib tapers to a blunt rounded point. Each rib projects 15mm from the edge and is 45 mm wide. The walls of the mortar are of varying thickness, the maximum thickness is 41mm. The inner edge (mouth) of the mortar has a diameter of 122mm. The inner sides taper (slope) forming a rounded bowl / dished shape with a sloping dished base. The bowl of the mortar is 110mm deep and the base of the mortar is exceptionally thick. It is possible that the mortar also had a decorative curved spout. This has been lost due damage. The mortar is a mid grey colour. A direct published parallel has not been found. Stone mortars are relatively common domestic items which occur on both domestic and ecclesiastical sites in the medieval period. A similar example can be seen in the Medieval catalogue of the Salisbury Museum Vol 1 (p170 no 6 / fig. 45.6). This is from an excavated context dating to the later 13th - 14th century. A much wide date range is suggested here as mortars of this type are used throughout the medieval and post medieval periods.

The mortar measures 185mm in diameter, is 190mm high and weighs 8.2 kilograms. The mortar has been recently broken into four pieces (prior to deposition with the museum service) - older breaks are worn and weathered.

The finder has kindly donated this mortar to Ludlow Museum / Shropshire Museum Service.