Medieval Ceramics Volume 13: Journal of the Medieval Pottery Research Group

The study of medieval pottery from mainly archaeological evidence can restrict the understanding of its manufacture, development and use. In order to widen the horizons of pottery research, and to suggest areas for further study, a survey of all the apprentice-trained producers of hand-made traditional pottery was carried out in the 1960s. The detailed working practices of these potters have already been published elsewhere, but here they are discussed in general, overall terms, commencing with clay preparation and throwing techniques. Those factors which govern the size and shape of the wares, including manufacturing requirements, load-bearing capacities, ergonomic considerations, and the need to serve distinct practical purposes are then discussed. The effects of different fuels and firing conditions are also considered, and, finally, the potters, methods of transport and trading, to demonstrate some of the human elements in their industry which archaeology could never reveal.

The recent discovery of a Middle Saxon kiln in the Buttermarket, Ipswich has revealed that kiln technology in the mid 9th century was more advanced, and that a wider range of pottery was produced in Ipswich than was formerly suspected. The structure of the kiln is described and the pottery, which is quite diff erent from the standard Ipswich wares, is discussed in terms of manufacture, decoration, distribution and dating.

During an archaeological excavation in Utrecht, a sealed complex of 14th-century pottery was found which contained a large number of sherds, most of which derive from globular pots. Since relatively little is known about the quantitative and qualitative aspects of this pottery, it was decided to carry out an analytical investigation of the rim fragments in particular. In view of the rather casual approach to rim sherds in pottery studies, it seemed worthwhile to adopt a more discriminating method of research which would provide as much reliable data as possible. By conducting a pilot study in order to standardise the investigation, a research protocol was drawn up. Characteristic features (variables) of the pottery were chosen and defined, methods and means of assessing them were established; the influence of the researcher was also considered. By replicating the assessments, and moreover by having two researchers, it was possible not only to obtain reliable data but also to calculate the ‘critical segment size’ and the fragmentation factor’ of rim sherds. These new concepts are considered to be applicable to research on excavated pottery in general. Some other recommendations for pottery research in general are also presented. During the analysis, the presence and absence of several inter-variable relationships was established, the former enabling a detailed quantification of the globular pots. A comparative study of the pottery from two other waster pits showed some obvious similarities between the three populations, but also some remarkable differences, the possible causes of which are discussed.

Publication review

Publication review

Publication review

General Income And Expenditure Account

Preliminaries (i.e. coverpage, contents) of Medieval Ceramics 1989