VESSEL

Medieval to Post Medieval (c. 12th to mid 19th century) cooking vessel rim fragments which are broken quite recently: The rim, in profile, is a slender 'D' and tapers to a blunt edge. The exterior surface of the rim wall is slightly concave. The only original edge of the two fragments' is the rim, the other edges of the fragment are all broken, but not recently with the exception of the joining break. The interior surface is smooth and shiny, with the external surface being slightly rough with traces of a black substance which is carbon deposits presumably. The surface is a mid to dark green/grey colour. The fragment measures 47.49mm deep and 140.37mm across the rim. Together they weigh 148.72g. The rim diameter is c. 260mm.

The shape of the rim fragment suggests this was probably a type of cooking vessel. It is uncertain what type of vessel, but Egan (1998) comments that commonly used cooking vessels in the Medieval period include skillets, ewers, and cauldrons. Butler, Green and Payne (2009) comment that rim fragments which are found as individual fragments are likely to be from cauldrons or posnets. These vessels are in use from c. 1100 until c. 1850 when cast iron cooking vessels are used instead.

Butler, R., Green, C. and Payne, N. 2009 'Cast copper-alloy cooking vessels' Finds Research Group AD700-1700 Datasheet 41

Egan G. 1998 The Medieval Household Daily Living c. 1150-c.1450 Museum of London, London, The Stationary Office