Post-Medieval Archaeol 32

Reports on investigations undertaken between 1986 and 1988 as part of a programme to protect from coastal erosion the only surviving early post-medieval saltworks in Wales. In operation between c 1550 and c 1650, the saltworks is an early example of open-pan production. The buildings were found to have been fortified in the seventeenth century and later converted into a dwelling, before becoming being abandoned in the 1870's. Specialist contributions comprise `The pump' [a wooden lift pump] by Martin Locock (19 & 20--1); `Pottery' by Steve Sell (20 & 21--8); `Slag and industrial material' by A H Moffat (28); `Metalwork' by Steve Sell (28); `Coins' by Steve Sell & Rodney Hudson (28); `Glass' by Dee Brennan (28); clay pipes' by Gill Evans (29).

Discusses the association of a significant group of Frechen bottles and drinking pots of with an individual London trader (P van den Anker) during the 1660s. An appendix comprises `Pieter van den Ancker's complaint at Dordrecht, 1664: texts and translation Gemeentelijk Archief van Drodrecht' (69--71).

Report that recent re-examination of a group of finds from a 1984 watching brief at 12--14 Mitre Street has identified a plate decorated with an inscription in Hebrew characters that was probably manufactured in Lambeth. The inscription identifies it as part of a set required by the observance of Jewish dietary laws. Dateable on stylistic grounds to the 1720s, the plate forms part of a large assemblage of domestic pottery and other artefacts deposited in the 1740s, by a middle-class Jewish household. John Schofield (95--6) contributes a note on `Documentary evidence'. An appendix gives tables of `The pottery from MIR84 context [100] by fabric and form' (108--10).

A description and account of the discovery of the lower portions of two earthenware vessels, found in 1971 at a site on Temple Way. The vessels were retrieved from a cellar that contained a large number of similar items, but their function is unknown.