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Description: | A fragment of ceramic vessel of uncertain date. This pottery sherd weighs 22.7g and measures 46.9mm x 42.1mm with a thickness of approximately 9.2mm. The fabric of the sherd is reduced all the way through (shown by the very dark grey/black colour at the inner and external surface and also at the core or centre of the sherd). The sherd is lighter grey on the extreme outer surface but the reduced colour is seen showing through. The external surface has been decorated with lines, probably positioned vertically down the vessel from top to bottom, of thumb and thumbnail 'pinches'. This decoration was formed by the tip of a thumb pressing down and into the unfired clay causing a semi-circular depression with an irregularly shaped semi-circular bulge projecting outwards slightly below. Three lines of this decoration can be seen, the complete width of a line and an incomplete line to either side. These lines are set 7.0mm apart and it might be assumed that these lines would have been repeated around the full circumference of the vessel. No calcitic inclusions are present in this sherd (this sherd has been tested with a dilute solution of hydrochloric acid). There are also no large flint inclusions, the presence of which would be suggestive of a prehistoric date. The broken edges still have some mud adhering which makes identification of the inclusions more problematic. The main inclusions used seem to be quartz grains, and possibly a little mica.Discussion and date: This sherd was handed in to be recorded in a finds bag labled Peterborough Ware, sub-type Ebbsfleet, of Neolithic date c.3000BC. National Finds Advisors for the Portable Antiquities Scheme, Sally Worrell and Kevin Leahy, have looked at this sherd in person. It was their shared opinion that this is more likely to be a sherd from an Early-Medieval 6th century AD vessel. This opinion was based on the hardness of the fabric, lack of large flint inclusions and that the fabric is reduced all of the way through. It was suggested that it might be similar to a pottery type found at Mucking. Leahy and Worrell acknowledge that they are not specifically familiar with the pottery of Neolithic and Early-Medieval date in this area of the country. They advised that if at all possible this sherd should be shown to pottery expert Dr Paul Blinkhorn.Dr Paul Blinkhorn identified this sherd on 19/06/2014 saying "The sherd is almost certainly part of an early Saxon rusticated vessel, probably 5th - 7th century. There were quite a few from West Stow if you have access to the report. They are known from the iron age, but are very rare, so saxon seems the most likely".
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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