Medieval and Post-Medieval Pottery

Abstract

Analysis of the medieval pottery from Caldecote was conducted in two phases. In order to establish the range of pottery types present at this site, the total number of sherds in each context was first estimated for the English Heritage assessment of the finds from the site. In a second stage of analysis a sample of 3,000 sherds was quantified in order to characterise the assemblage in each historical period of the site as established by the excavation. This established a fabric type series by chronological order, identifying provenance where possible. Stamford ware with lead glaze is increasingly common after the late ninth century and used up until the mid twelveth century when developed Stamford ware is introduced with copper glaze in a new range of forms. Post-medieval blackwares are generally considered to be a seventeenth-century product from kilns in Essex, such as Loughton, Stock and Harlow.