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VESSEL
Unique ID: SOM-655104
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Rim fragment from a late Medieval or Post Medieval cast copper alloy vessel. The rim flared out from the vessel wall, none of which survives. It thickens slightly towards the plain, angled, top edge. The outer side is covered in diagonal and vertical lines from wiping marks on the mould. The inner side is smooth. A circular hole has been drilled near one broken edge, with another drilled by the rim. It is 51.8mm in width and 60.95mm in height, 5.3mm thick.
The holes are lined up to follow the alignment of the break and are probably from an old repair, as seen on SUSS-881300, rather than from a handle lug as seen on SOM-1E9E42.
Crudely made cast copper alloy vessels were widely used from c.1200-1700 for serving and cooking. Butler and Green (2003; 15) state 'there is evidence that (cast copper alloy) metal cooking vessels became increasingly common during the 13th and 14th centuries'. Although earlier copper alloy vessels are known they are rarer and mostly of sheet metal or hammered out (ibid; 7). While certain specialist cast copper alloy vessels such as skillets remained in use later 'bronze caldrons in general seem to have been superseded in the early years of the 18th century when their place was taken by cast-iron vessels which were cheaper to make and more durable to use.' (ibid: 22).
Notes:
This record was created at a rally and may therefore fall below our usual standards of identification or photography.
Class: Rim
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 60.95 mm
Width: 51.8 mm
Thickness: 5.3 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 25th September 2011
Rally details.
This object was found at Spaxton 2011 - Stogursey, WHRADA, 25-09-2011
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: Rally reference 640
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Fragment
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: West Somerset (District)
Parish or ward: Stogursey (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: ST2243
Four figure Latitude: 51.18089
Four figure longitude: -3.1173
1:25K map: ST2243
1:10K map: ST24SW
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler, R. and Green, C. | 2003 | English Bronze Cooking Vessels and Their Founders 1350-1830 | Honiton, Devon | Roderick & Valentine Butler |
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