AMPULLA

A complete cast lead-alloy ampulla dating to the Medieval period, c. 1350-1500. This example is of Spencer's type 2 and survives completely intact; it is bag-shaped in plan, with a flaring mouth, tapering neck (with a single co-incident side suspension lug on each side of the object) and rounded lower body. One face of the ampulla depicts a series of radiating raised moulded lines that give a scallop shell like appearance, while its reverse face depicts the design of a branch or flower set over the initial 'R'. Preserved in good condition with an even greyish patina, it measures 51.24mm in length, 23.43mm wide at its mouth, 26.31mm in width at the suspension lugs, 25.24mm wide at the midpoint of its lower body, and 6.35mm thick at its midpoint. It weighs 39.98g.

Ampullae were mass produced pilgrim souvenirs used to carry holy water dispensed at holy wells and shrines. It has been suggested that they might have been used in the religious ceremony of 'blessing the fields' each spring to pray for a good harvest, during which the contents would have been sprinkled on the fields and the containers discarded. The presence of scallop shell design on the reverse face of this ampulla signifies pilgrimage itself, while the letter R on the obverse is less easily identifiable. However, the use of this letter is seen for Richard Caistor of Norwich, Vicar of St. Stephen's church- where a local cult emerged following his death in 1420 (Spencer, 1998: 196). It is possible that this ampulla relates to this, or a similar, cult. Identical ampullae to this example are recorded on the PAS database as SF-808FF2, SF-EF2151, SF-3DD594, SF-76AFD7 and SF-968760.