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Description: | A cast lead or lead alloy ampulla. In plan it is sub-rectangle, with a slightly swollen rounded base, and a narrowed neck. Integral and protruding from one side of the neck is a small square sectioned triangular lug. On the opposite edge there are two small broken surfaces, which suggest a second lug has since broken off the ampulla. The break does not look recent. Both lower portions of the ampulla are decorated. One face is decorated with a high-relief shield, which has what appears to be a monogram of ?T? and ?O?. The reverse face appears have a detailed design along the lower edge which includes cross-hatching; however the overall design is unclear. The upper edge of the ampulla is slightly abraded, but has been closed or crimped and then opened. This suggests the contents of the ampulla were used.
The surface of the ampulla has developed a light grey/cream coloured patina. Its length from the upper edge to the apex of the base is 52.05mm, the maximum width across the lower portion is 32.97mm, and the thickness of the base of the ampulla is 12.31mm. It weighs 59.61g.
Ampullae were used as a flask to hold holy water, becoming a souvenir of a pilgrimage; they date to the late 12th to 15th centuries (Spencer, B. 1990, Pilgrim Souvenirs and Secular Badges, Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum p, 57 ff). The origin of this ampulla is not known. | Format: | text/html | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Publisher: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Rights holder: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Subjects: | archaeology | Temporal: | 1175
1500 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Angie Bolton | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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