Old-Pottery

Click here for the original (that MIGHT disappear)

Reinforced Bung Hole

This ring is roughly 40mm in diameter, with an 18mm central hole. When originally found we thought it might be either a loom weight or a weight from a drop spindle. On further investigation, we discovered it is more likely to be a reinforced bung hole from a large vessel used to carry liquids. It would have been situated somewhere close to the bottom of the container and a bung would have been removed from it to allow liquid to be poured. Looking at it sideways on the greyer side (presumably colouration in an area not as exposed to the firing) is slightly concave to fit the curve of the pot.

Saxon - Medieval pottery The left hand piece is 13th century, probably from a pitcher. The redish brown exterior hides a dark grey interior, and most interesting is the fingernail decoration still visible on the worn surface. The two to the right are Saxon - early Norman, 10th - 12th century. The max. dimension of all three pieces shown is approx. 50mm. A small quantity of knapped flint waste was also found in the same area as the pottery, perhaps evidence of much earlier use of the knoll and it's spring. The surrounding wider area also contained pottery from later periods, in particular from the 18th -19th century.

(Thanks to Dorset Museum for their help with identification)