VESSEL

Cast and wrought lead or lead alloy container, possibly a bird feeder, of later medieval or post medieval date (1400-1600). The container has been crushed and is incomplete. It is an irregular shape in plan and sub rectangular (square with a flared neck) in profile.

The container was probably D-shaped before being damaged. It is formed from one sheet of metal with a seam at one of the rear corners; it consists of a front and rear face, as well as a base. It measures 46.9mm in length, 50.8mm width and is 30.5mm thick. The thickness of the metal varies from 3.7mm at the neck to 2.1mm on the sides. The container weighs 131.66 grams.

The rear of the container is flat and undecorated; however it does have a small broken lug near the base. This might have been part of a rearward facing suspension hook. On the left hand side of the rear is a linear seam or joint where the metal has been wrought or welded closed. This joint extends along the length of the rear panel and does not extend into the base. The seam has been partially opened and damaged by abrasion in the ground. The base is slightly bowed (convex) and undecorated. In plan it is semi-circular or D shaped. The front face of the container was originally bowed - convex (now distorted). It is decorated by three horizontal bands of cast decoration. The first is beneath the rim or lip of the container, and the second and third span the middle section, below the flared neck. If the container was decorated further then this has been obliterated by abrasion and other damage.

The container is a mid yellowish grey colour with an even abraded patina that covers all surfaces. The crushing and other abrasion has resulted in the lead alloy corroding and laminating; this has caused a spider web cracking effect across the container. Similar artefacts have been identified as bird seed containers and dated to the later medieval and post medieval periods (1450-1700; Egan 2005, 128-9). However, others have suggested that these containers could be used as dice shakers, grain measures, blood letting cups, or inkwells.

A similar bird seed container can be seen in Brian Read, 1995: 'History beneath our feet', pages 127-128, figure 811. A very similar container has also been recorded by the PAS from Huxley, Cheshire (PAS reference - HESH-C093B6)