Record ID: MAS-100010
Object type: FOOD AND DRINK SERVING CONTAINER
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Published
This is a group of nine sherds of ceramic, of which six are samian ware (also called terra sigillata). Samian pottery is a mould-made, glossy red, mass-produced, fine tableware. It was first manufactured in northern Italy at the end of the 1st century BC, however by AD 43 production had moved to Gaul (France). The production of samian ware ended around AD 260. The following interpretation is based on the photographs associated with this record. An examination of the fabric and surviving decorative elements may provide further information on the region of manufacture or production cent…
Created on: Wednesday 28th September 2016
Last updated: Thursday 13th April 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-O100099
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Hampshire
Workflow stage: Published
Heavily sea-rolled and worn worked flint tool, covered in chalk patination (see third image). The flint measures 80 mm long, 60 mm wide and 30 mm thick, and unfortunately about 20% of the working end has recently broken off. Due to wear and damage on this hand-worked tool it has been difficult to confidently identify. Bryan Popple of Bournemouth Natural Science Society and Museum believes it could possibly be Homo neanderthalensis dating to around 200,000 years bp (before present). The smaller size indicates typical Neanderthal workings in comparison to the larger and older Homo heidel…
Created on: Saturday 5th August 2017
Last updated: Wednesday 23rd May 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-O100062
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: Hampshire
Workflow stage: Published
Lower Palaeolithic ovate handaxe dating to around 250,000 years bp (before present). Patina evident on its surface indicates that the tool has been deposited in chalk, therefore it probably originated offshore and was washed onshore (rather than eroded from terrestrial river terraces). This identification was made by Bryan Popple of Bournemouth Natural Science Society and Museum. Matt Leivers, an in-house specialist at Wessex Archaeology believes it is a very rolled and abraded Lower Palaeolithic handaxe that has clearly been around on the seabed for a considerable period of time.
Created on: Friday 30th June 2017
Last updated: Wednesday 23rd May 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-O100203
Object type: HANDAXE
Broad period: PALAEOLITHIC
County: City of Portsmouth
Workflow stage: Published
Images of this find were sent to Andrew Shaw, flint specialist at Wessex Archaeology who determined that this object is an ovate biface handaxe that is in mint condition. This example is approximately 50-60 mm in width and 80-100 mm in long-axis. He said that the form of the butt and lateral margins are reminiscent of late Middle Palaeolithic handaxes, and it's possible that deposits of that age may be found in the intertidal and offshore zone in. Based on the images alone, he said that it's possibly a late Middle Palaeolithic handaxe dating from between 60,000 to 30,000 years ago. Han…
Created on: Friday 3rd August 2018
Last updated: Tuesday 31st March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100134
Object type: HANDLE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Workflow stage: Published
The stem of a silver fork or spoon with a hallmark pattern. The set of four hallmarks located together on the piece of cutlery indicates it was made later than 1781, when this practice was first introduced. Based on this image, this type of spoon/fork is possibly a Fiddle pattern - this refers to the shape of the handle - and is a type introduced in the 1780s and still in production today. The Fiddle pattern means that there are shoulders on the stem near the bowl, which is seen on this example. The lower end of the stem juts out around 90 degrees but this example may have been worn d…
Created on: Monday 23rd October 2017
Last updated: Monday 30th March 2020
No spatial data available.

Record ID: MAS-D100128
Object type: HINGE
Broad period: NINETEENTH CENTURY
Workflow stage: Published
This record refers to the metal hinge and attached timber shown in the top left corner of image one, the other finds are dealt with under separate records. The object is approximately 305 mm in overall length and 204 mm in overall width. For the hinge element of the object only one leaf can be observed from the photo, which measures approximately 64 mm by 127 mm. Given the leaves are likely to be identical in size, this would suggest the overall width is approximately 127 mm making a regular square when fully opened. The metal of the hinge is in generally good condition, with some blu…
Created on: Monday 9th October 2017
Last updated: Wednesday 22nd April 2020
No spatial data available.

Record ID: MAS-D100074
Object type: INK BOTTLE
Broad period: NINETEENTH CENTURY
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Published
A collection of four ink bottles; one large and three small. The larger stoneware ink bottle displays a pourer on the rim and is glazed with a feldspathic glaze. This type of ink bottle was introduced in the 1860s and were superseded by glass bottles by the first decade of the 20th century. Cylindrical stoneware ink bottles were made in England in large quantities throughout the Victorian era. The bottles varied widely in size and were not all brown. The larger or master bottles with a pouring lip brown bottles were commonly used for ink. The pouring spout would be used to distribute …
Created on: Monday 24th July 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 21st November 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100232
Object type: INK BOTTLE
Broad period: NINETEENTH CENTURY
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Published
Four small stoneware cylindrical ceramic inkwells. The ceramic is made of a light brown paste with a salt-glazed surface. The dimensions are 45 mm in diameter by 50 mm high. This type of inkwell was commonly known as a "penny ink" bottle. They were corked, sealed with sealing wax and cost a penny each. They contained writing ink. This type of ink bottle was introduced in the mid-19th century and were superseded by glass bottles by the first decade of the 20th century. Small ink bottles or wells were usually no more than four inches high and did not have a pouring spout like the maste…
Created on: Tuesday 2nd October 2018
Last updated: Thursday 26th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100132
Object type: INK BOTTLE
Broad period: NINETEENTH CENTURY
Workflow stage: Published
One stoneware ink bottle. Ink bottles or inkwells were made of various materials including glass, various metals, various stones, various woods, horn, ceramics and stoneware, and even hard rubber. Prior to beginning of the 19th century, virtually all ink came in ceramic containers which were still commonly used throughout most of the 19th century. Stoneware bottles were superseded by glass bottles by the first decade of the 20th century. Ink bottles of this size are known as the bulk or master ink bottles (https://sha.org/bottle/household.htm, accessed March 2020). The master bottles …
Created on: Monday 23rd October 2017
Last updated: Monday 30th March 2020
No spatial data available.

Record ID: MAS-D100046
Object type: JAR
Broad period: NINETEENTH CENTURY
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Published
Two stoneware jars with feldspathic glaze over yellow ochre dip on upper part of vessels. One carries the stamped mark of the manufacturer: 'Doulton & Watts' Lambeth Pottery'. The firm of Doulton and Watts was established in 1820 as Watts and Doulton, becoming Doulton and Watts by 1826 (Tyler et al. 2005, 12). This particular stamp was used until 1858, when John Watts died, after which the name Doulton appeared alone (Eyles and Irvine 2002, Appendix II), although the company name of Doulton and Watts was used in trade catalogues until at least 1873. Feldspathic glazes were introduc…
Created on: Saturday 3rd June 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 26th September 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100035
Object type: JAR
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Workflow stage: Published
Part of a large clay storage jar. Due to the size of the fragment and the degree of marine growth on this item it has been tentatively identified as an olive jar, probably Spanish in origin, and dating anywhere between the medieval to post-medieval period (13th/14th to 18th century), most likely from the latter end of this date range (16th - 18th century).
Created on: Friday 7th April 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 26th September 2017
No spatial data available.

Record ID: MAS-100020
Object type: JAR
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Published
Pottery sherd: a rim sherd from a Post Medieval glazed redware flanged bowl with a horizontal looped side handle. The sherd dates to the 17th/18th century. The manufacture and origin of the sherd is unknown due to the mass production of this type of kitchenware.
Created on: Tuesday 13th December 2016
Last updated: Monday 3rd April 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100054
Object type: JUG
Broad period: NINETEENTH CENTURY
County: Kent
Workflow stage: Published
Four milk jugs with a Chinese style design and a light grey coloured pattern and appear to be made of porcelain (although this has not been confirmed). Similar in decorative style to the bowls recorded as MAS-D100047, it is assumed that the these milk jugs were made by either Charles Meigh of Hanley, Staffordshire (1835-49), the preceding company, J. Meigh and Son (c.1805-34), or the succeeding company, Charles Meigh and Son (1851-61) (Godden 1964, 428-429).
Created on: Sunday 4th June 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 26th September 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100052
Object type: JUG
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Workflow stage: Published
One badly damaged ceramic jug with marine encrustration. The vessel is probably stoneware, but possibly glazed redware as there appears to be the characteristic 'orange peel' texture of salt-glazed stoneware visible in the photo, with the 'reeding' that you get round the rims of stoneware vessels. If this is the case it is almost certainly German in origin. The rounded shape would place it somewhere in the second half of the 16th century or first half of the 17th century.
Created on: Tuesday 23rd May 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 3rd October 2017
No spatial data available.

Record ID: MAS-O100169
Object type: KNIFE
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Isle of Wight
Workflow stage: Published
Double edged blade covered with concretions, around 25 mm wide and 280 mm long. Displays iron oxidation, and the item has not been preserved well. The blade is roughly 200 mm long and the thicker handle is approximately 80 mm long. Following consultation with Henry Yallop of The Royal Armouries museum, this object can only be discribed as roughly the shape of a common blade form , i.e. roughly lenticular, and about 25 mm broad. What is not clear is whether it was once the complete blade, or that this is part of one, or alternatively that it was the part of another forged object, and o…
Created on: Saturday 20th January 2018
Last updated: Thursday 26th March 2020
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-F100106
Object type: LADDER
Broad period: NINETEENTH CENTURY
County: East Sussex
Workflow stage: Published
These two timbers are two components of a companion ladder. The larger piece measures 1.14 m long by 0.15 m wide and based on the visible ridges to accommodate the stairs, would have been the left-hand side banister of the ladder. The smaller piece measures 0.56 m wide and is 20 mm thick. This piece is one of the stairs that would have fitted between both banisters and still slots in to one of the grooves on the remaining banister. The join is step and groove radiused rather than square cut. Companion ladders or a companion way is usually steep but has treads or stairs rather than run…
Created on: Wednesday 23rd August 2017
Last updated: Tuesday 8th May 2018
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-100012
Object type: LANDING CRAFT INFANTRY
Broad period: MODERN
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Published
This hulk is situated on the River Deben, just outside of Melton (Suffolk) and is estimated to measure 11.5 m in length and 3 m in width. The structure is rectangular in shape with squared edges and straight sides. One end suggests the presence of a bulkhead and a hatch or doorway, while the other end is missing. Parts of possible rudder components are located close to the bulkhead, suggesting that this is the stern. Internal frames can be seen throughout the remaining structure; estimated measurements reveal a spacing of approximately 0.42 m. The hull is constructed of wood in a doubl…
Created on: Friday 30th September 2016
Last updated: Monday 10th October 2016
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-D100150
Object type: LID
Broad period: MODERN
Workflow stage: Published
One copper item, thought to be a lid by discoverer. It is around 180 mm in diameter with greenish brown discolouration from the oxidising of the copper. At its centre there is a raised disc that has been possibly beaten out of the original shape. This circular embossed disc is approximately 90 mm in diameter and has a small circular aperture in its centre (roughly 10 mm diameter). Other than a lid, the item could be a lamp shade of some sort or a hub of some wheeled apparatus.
Created on: Monday 9th October 2017
Last updated: Friday 27th March 2020
No spatial data available.

Record ID: MAS-100017
Object type: MAMMAL REMAINS
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Published
This cattle mandible, or lower jaw, is comprised of two incomplete sections; cattle mandibles are rarely encountered in the archaeological record as conjoined pairs (Zhang et al. 2013). The smaller piece is an incomplete section featuring both pre-molars and molars. The larger piece is fairly complete, with the exception of teeth, extending all the way to the part in which the incisors and canines would be located. This front section is separated from the molar and pre-molar root holes by the diastema. Providing a relative date for this cattle mandible is challenging without further e…
Created on: Tuesday 18th October 2016
Last updated: Monday 16th January 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: MAS-100008
Object type: MAMMAL REMAINS
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Northumberland
Workflow stage: Published
This tooth is a cattle (Bos spp) molar from the upper jaw. It has four crescentic cusps (polycuspid) forming a square crown, as well as four root elements. These characteristics are typical of selenodont teeth which are found in ruminant herbivores (e.g. cattle, goats, sheep, or deer). Viewed from the side, the crown of the tooth forms triangular profiles which, in combination with ridges, makes the sideways jaw motion of ruminants an effective way to break-up tough plant matter. Thus their function as crushing and grinding teeth. The alternating layers of enamel, dentine and cementum…
Created on: Monday 12th September 2016
Last updated: Tuesday 27th September 2016
Spatial data recorded.