Category Archives: Project Archaeologists

11 Piper’s Piping

Why we may not have musical pipes, or the esteemed piper’s giving a rendition of whichever Christmas carol might be your favourite…the Archive team have managed to find a type which appears frequently on archaeological sites, the clay pipe.

A clay pipe from our archives

Tobacco arrived in Britain following the 16th century European expeditions to the Americas that witnessed the ritualistic use amongst the native tribes of the continent, and soon became a mainstay within the British lifestyle. Despite being initially disapproved and persecuted against by religious leaders, and even King James I, discontent amongst the people saw that it would be imported with a levy applied.

Although initially only affordable for the rich, the habit of tobacco smoking spread quickly across the country and by the late 17th century almost every town and city had a clay pipe makers. The size of the bowl and length of stem were all altered over time in keeping with the fashion, to allow for more tobacco or a cooler smoke. This often saw long-stemmed pipes thrown away on the spot after use as they broke so easily!

At the beginning of the 18th century the clay pipe industry declined dramatically due to the conflict between Europe and America, but became popular again in the 19th century, with intricate and artistic pipe designs commonplace.

In the modern (cigarette-loving) setting, pipe smoking is considered a novelty for those nostalgic fellows amongst us.

Feature image recreated from Xavier Romero-Frias https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:XRF_12days.jpg under CC license

10 Lord’s a-Leaping

Our lordly offering is this crest found on a piece of ceramic. Heraldry is a broad term encompassing the design, display, and study of armoury. The right to bear arms, or be allowed to display a coat of arms was a recognition of rank or status. Only those with ancestral rights or a grant made by the crown. Therefore the display of a crest like this could be seen as a display of power and authority.

A heraldic crest on a piece of ceramic

Feature image recreated from Xavier Romero-Frias https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:XRF_12days.jpg under CC license

9 Ladies dancing

From the simplest of leather sandal to the highly elaborate heeled boot of the 18th century, shoes are an artefact archaeologists seem to enjoy finding. Somehow they bring the human element of the past back to the forefront. The earliest examples of shoes in the UK are from the Bronze Age when broad strips of leather were laced together; few have been found so styles and fashions are uncertain but they appear to be mostly functional. The sandal developed into the well-recognised Roman hobnailed caligae and eventually the closed shoe came into fashion. In the medieval period (and the Discworlds Unseen University) shoes were a sign of status with the pointier the toe the higher the status. Most people had leather shoes, they were functional and mass produced.

This example is from Grimsby and is early-mid Medieval it appears unused as there is no sign of wear on the base and all the stitching holes are complete. It is quite clearly a right shoe and about a size 5 ½ .

Medieval shoe from Grimsby

Eight Maids a-Milking

Eight Maids a-Milking is fairly self-explanatory in this case, we have a cows skull!

A cow skull!

Feature image recreated from Xavier Romero-Frias https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:XRF_12days.jpg under CC license

Seven Swans are swimming

Swans have represented beauty, romance and elegance for a very long time. Earlier representations of river birds, (such as this Romano-British Nene Valley colour coated ware) may not have captured them in their regal integrity but it does indicate a common fascination with putting them on pots. Whether it’s Emma Bridgewater or Roman pottery imported from Peterborough to Lincolnshire in the 3rd to 4th centuries.

Swan’s a-Swimming across this pot

Feature image recreated from Xavier Romero-Frias https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:XRF_12days.jpg under CC license

Six Geese a-Laying

Images of human remains feature in this post

Six Geece a_Laying stand for the six days of creation in Genesis. On the sixth day he made all the creatures on dry land including Adam, the first man. From Adam’s rib he crafted Eve and therefore our sixth day is represented by a human rib.

A human rib

Feature image recreated from Xavier Romero-Frias https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:XRF_12days.jpg under CC license

Five gold rings

Gold jewellery has been present in the archaeological record since about 4000 BC, but we are unfortunately short of golden rings in our stores. I did find a carved glass bead once inset into a ring and who knows it could have been gold.

Instead we have gone for an Intaglios; an engraving carved onto a flat surface, often mounted onto a ring. Intaglios start in the 7th century BC in the near east but our example is Romano British and depicts a female figure raising a spear in the air. Originally they were a sign of status and made of semi-precious stones such as jasper or amber. They were both decorative and functional being used to impress a seal into liquid wax. Like many prestige items the general population caught onto the fashion and began to reproduce them in more affordable materials. This style eventually developed into the cameo so popular with the Victorians, where a portrait was carved in relief instead of inset showing the change in use from functional to decorative.

Romano-British Intaglio

Feature image recreated from Xavier Romero-Frias https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:XRF_12days.jpg under CC license

Three French Hens

French hens were a luxury import in the 16th Century and are therefore said to represent the expensive gifts gold, frankincense and myrrh. Alternatively they are also thought to symbolise faith, hope and charity. As there are no apparent French hens in the archive I have chosen three French minted Roman coins.

3 French Hens (or coins….)

The largest of the three coins is also the earliest. It dates to 307-318 AD and was minted in Lyon during the reign of Constantine I. The two smaller coins were both minted in Arles. One dates to 364-378 AD and shows the Roman Emperor Valens. The other coin dates to 367-383 and depicts Gratian.

Feature image recreated from Xavier Romero-Frias https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:XRF_12days.jpg under CC license

Two turtle doves

The Bible depicts doves as loyal, honest and loving. In Leviticus 12:8, two turtle doves replaced a lamb sacrifice. Mary and Joseph sacrificed two turtle doves in Jerusalem at Christ’s birth. Turtle doves are still associated with the Christmas tradition.

Turtle doves symbolize love and faithfulness

Our turtle doves are represented by this delicate copper alloy and enamel bird brooch excavated from a Roman context off Newport in Lincoln.

Feature image recreated from Xavier Romero-Frias https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:XRF_12days.jpg under CC license