VESSEL

Rim sherd of a large Mortarium (mixing vessel with a gritted inner surface) probably made in the West Midlands (possibly around Wroxeter - Viroconium) dating from the Roman period 100-150 AD. The fabric is fairly uniform and hard with small angular grit, iron stone, and quartz inclusions. The fabric colour is a dirty beige white. A large proportion of the inner grinding surface survives; this has a number of angular, sub-angular, and rounded quartz, grit and iron stone inclusions impressed into the surface of the clay. From the rim of the sherd a diameter for the mortarium can be estimated; this would be approximately 27cm. A large proportion of the base is also present and an estimated diameter for this is 14cm. There are no stamped marks present on the mortarium and very little decoration. The only decoration present is an incised line around the inner rim of the bowl.

The sherd has several breaks along its length; many of these are relatively old, however, several are relatively fresh. This pattern of breakage suggests that it has been removed from a primary context possibly a rubbish pit. This is highly likely as it was found with a number of other sherds of similar date (HESH-43FC64, HESH-440E01, HESH-441767, HESH-45F071, HESH-466526) during the digging of an agricultural drainage ditch.

A large plug of soil was recovered inside the bowl of the mortarium. When this soil was removed a large quantity of charcoal was discovered on the base (next to the grinding surface) and within the make up of the soil. This charcoal seems to have come from small amounts of brushwood rather than from larger branches. A sample of the soil was sieved in the hope of recovering organic evidence such as grain or seeds. However, on examination the sample no organic evidence was discovered. Small fragment of broken tile or other ceramic building materials were discovered within the sample. None of these was large enough to ascertain the nature of the material. It is likely that this soil sample was deposited in or close to the mortarium (and other sherds) and might represent the clearings of a hearth or small cooking fire

References: www.worcestershireceramics.org