Reports

Ravensmere, Beccles (BCC 030): pottery assessment.

Introduction

A total of 243 sherds weighing 3.989 kg was collected during the monitoring of this site. Quantification by fabric is shown in Table 1, and a more detailed listing by context is included in the archive.

Methodology

Quantification was carried out using both sherd count and weight. EVEs were not measured as part of the assessment. A full quantification by fabric is available in the archive, as are full fabric descriptions. Recording uses a system of letters for fabric codes (similar to that employed in London and Lincoln), together with number codes to enable ease of sorting in database format. Results were input into an MS Access database.

The pottery

Table 1. Pottery quantification by fabric.

Early medieval wares and medieval coarsewares

Only two sherds, a rim and a body sherd, were identified as early medieval. The majority of sandy greywares from this site were probably of high medieval date, and most rims were 'developed' suggesting a 13th century or later date. Medieval coarsewares form 69% of the total number and 65% of the total weight of the assemblage. Several large rimsherds were collected. Fabrics ranged from fine to coarse, and all were tempered with sand and few other inclusions. Rimsherds were of the type normally associated with sites in east Suffolk, but the fabrics were more similar to Norfolk 'Local Medieval Unglazed' Ware, which has a relatively smooth and fine grey fabric.

Identifiable forms included jars, jugs and bowls, as well as a few sherds of a possible curfew (0005). Few sherds were decorated, but some jar body sherds had vertical applied thumbed strips, and one sherd had crudely incised lines on both surfaces.

Some of the material, where it is associated with LMT (see below) may be of a later date, as indicated by the presence of rims which appear to be developing towards LMT rim forms. A Waveney Valley source for this material appears likely on present evidence.

Medieval glazed wares

The most common glazed ware was a coarse redware which has been found frequently enough in Great Yarmouth to be called 'Yarmouth-type Glazed Ware' (Anderson forthcoming). The origin of this material has not been identified, but a source in south-east Norfolk or north-east Suffolk seems likely. Body sherds of glazed jugs were found in this group.

Other medieval glazed wares included Grimston-type ware, of which one sherd was the light firing variety which may be late, and an unidentified base fragment with internal yellow/green glaze.

Two sherds of glazed white ware may be Andenne Ware, although the fabric was relatively coarse. The sherds formed a large part of the body of a jug or jar with a thin wall. The vessel was burnt and partially oxidised in places.

Late medieval and early post-medieval

Late Medieval and Transitional Ware was common at this site, probably reflecting its proximity to the production sites in the Waveney Valley. Vessels identified included a bunghole cistern, large dishes and pancheons, jugs, and jars with complex rims. One jug was decorated with applied strips which were glazed brown on a green background. Some of the material was similar to Yarmouth-type glazed ware, and may represent a later manifestation of this Ware. One sherd of late Grimston-type ware with green glaze on both inner and outer surfaces was found.

A small sherd of tin-glazed earthenware with external blue decoration and plain white glaze internally was collected.

Imported material of this period included a small sherd of Langerwehe stoneware, a Frechen stoneware body sherd and a frilly base of possible Dutch origin.

Refined whitewares and stonewares

Later post-medieval material consisted of stonewares of Staffordshire and Nottingham type, and white earthenwares. Vessel forms included a blue spongeware plate rim (probably pearlware), and an ironstone vessel with a footring. One white-firing stoneware was covered in cobalt blue glaze on both surfaces.

Discussion and potential for further analysis

This is a large assemblage from a monitoring project and, although largely unstratified, forms an important group of medieval and late medieval pottery from north-east Suffolk. It is the largest group to be excavated in Beccles to date. Further work is required to refine fabric types within the general 'medieval coarseware' category, and to compare this group with recently excavated material from Bungay and rural sites in north-east Suffolk. The main rim forms require illustration to form part of the Suffolk type series.

Summary of finds report

The main artefact type collected from this site was pottery, which ranged in date from the 11th to the 19th centuries. The assemblage suggests that the main activity on the site probably occurred from the 13th to the 15th centuries, however. The material collected is domestic in origin, representing household waste probably associated with dwellings located in the vicinity. Further work on the pottery is required to aid the understanding of medieval ceramics in this part of Suffolk and its relationships within local and regional contexts.

References

Anderson, S. forthcoming Pottery reports for Howard Street and Lacon's Brewery sites in Great Yarmouth (for RPS Clouston and Norfolk Archaeological Unit), to be published in a single volume of EAA.

Sue Anderson, © September 1999.

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