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AMPULLA
Unique ID: SF-B28208
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
An incomplete lead medieval ampulla (pilgrim souvenir). It has a roughly circular body, with a long trapezoid neck extending from one end. Originally hollow inside, both faces have now been crushed together and there are splits around the opening.The metal is greyish-white in colour and slightly pitted. One face of the body is decorated with lines radiating outwards abd the other side with a raised crowned letter W against a cross-hatched background.
Ampullae featuring the letter W are thought to be associated with the cult of Our Lady of Walsingham. Spencer (1998, 3) suggests that ampulla were popular in England from the second half of the 12th century until the early 14th century, when they were largely replaced by badges as the most popular type of pilgrimage momento, although some continued to be used into the 15th century. The radiating lines seen on one face are often found on ampulla and represent a scallop shell, a symbol associated with St James of Compostella (Spencer 1990, 58) and the rite of pilgrimage more generally.
Length: 56.40mm, width: 29.97mm, thickness: 5.29mm, weight: 31.24g
Inscription:
W
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1150
Date to: Circa AD 1350
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 56.4 mm
Width: 29.97 mm
Thickness: 5.29 mm
Weight: 31.24 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st October 2015
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Norfolk (County)
District: South Norfolk (District)
To be known as: Bressingham
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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