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Description: | An incomplete cast lead alloy ampulla, dating to the Medieval period between AD 1175 ?? 1500 (length: 51mm; width: 31.5mm; thickness: 12mm; weight: 69.86g). The artefact is sub-rectangular in plan with a rounded base but in narrow in side-section. The artefact becomes narrow in plan at the neck before slightly tapering outwards at the top where the opening to the hollow cavity would have been. To either side of the neck, there are remains of a single incomplete and integral lead alloy attachment loop, where the ampulla would have originally been suspended from around the pilgrim??s neck or belt. On one side of the ampulla, there is a sequence of markings or letterings: one on top of the other. At the top, there is a bifoliate crown, a possible slanted and cruved ??A?? in the centre and a clear ??W?? at the bottom. There does not appear to be any decoration or markings on the opposing side. The artefact is in a worn and slightly damaged condition with slight breaks at the mouth of the artefact and a deep indentation at the neck of the unmarked side. There is a similar example illustrated in Spencer, B, 1990, ??Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 2: Pilgrim Souvenirs & Secular Badges??, pages 60 & 89, fig 180, ref no 138, with a crowned ??W?? on one side. Spencer states that another identical example was found at Huntingdon and others with the same motif were found at Cobham, Kent and near Norwich. Other examples of the crowned ??W?? have also turned up at Walsingham, Harling (Norfolk), Lodon, Boxley (Kent), to name but a few. According to Spencer, ampullae bearing the crowned letter ??W?? have been tentatively associated with the cult of Our Lady at Walsingham. The relatively large number and wide distribution of the ampullae involved point to a shrine of major importance, such as Walsingham. However, the letter ??W?? may also have had a more general meaning as double ??V?? (Virgo Virginium) and ??M?? for Maria when inverted. Spencer (pages 57-8) describes ampullae as ??flask-shaped, but with a narrow, flattish section, they were designed to contain a dose of the thaumaturgic water that was dispensed to pilgrims at many shrines and holy wells.?? He continues that they came ??into use in the last quarter of the twelfth century?? and were ??almost the only kind of pilgrim souvenir to be had during the thirteen century??. | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Johnson, Caroline - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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