VESSEL

Eardisland History and Heritage Group

Eardisland Excavation 2000-2010

Site Summary: Finds were made during the excavation of a mound in the grounds adjacent to the dwelling: Burton Court Eardisland. The trench in which the majority of artefacts were found measured 5 metres by 3 metres. The stratified assemblage of pottery is of regional importance being especially well preserved and evidence for a domestic non-castle medieval site dating from the twelfth to early thirteenth centuries (1100-1250)

Site number: BC 01

Sector: A/B

Context number: Unstratified

Two body sherds of Vale of Gloucester ware Fabric Type HER (Hereford) D2

The largest fragment measures:

1) 26.8mm in length, 13.9mm width, 7.9mm thick at the wall and weighs 3.3 grams.

The smallest fragment measures:

2) 17.8mm in length, 11.2mm width, 9.9mm thick at the wall and weighs 1.9 grams.

Bulk weight: 5.2 grams

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Sherd specific details:

Fabric Type: Vale of Gloucester Ware Fabric type D2

Fabric Condition: A hard fabric with inclusions; there are voids on the interior surface.

Firing Condition:

1. Exterior: Black; Core: Black; Interior: Mid-brown

2. Exterior: Brown; Core: Black; Interior: Dark brown

Surface texture:

1. Exterior: rough, no sooting; Interior: rough, no sooting or limescale

2. Exterior: very rough; no sooting; Interior: very rough, no sooting or limescale

Condition of sherd.

1. Very poor

2. Very poor

Inclusions: A mica rich fabric with common rounded and oval white limestone (1.0mm) and oolitic voids.Common small rounded ironstone fragments (0.5mm) Sparse angular quartz grains and sparse angular white fossil shell..

Glaze: None

Class: Vale of Gloucester ware HER (Hereford) Fabric D2

Comments: Dr. Alan Vince - identified this as probably from a pottery production site at Haresfield, Gloucestershire.The vessel had been used to contain an acidic liquid probably alcoholic in nature. He further notes that the sherd came from a spouted pitcher. Pitchers are redder in colour than the cooking pots from the same kiln - this indicates a higher firing temperature.

Note: Vince notes that this fabric also includes finely divided calcite and rounded pellets of iron ore / muscovite being visible in section.