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Finder
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County
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Date Recorded
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Simon Law
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WILTSHIRE
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Fri April 27, 2007
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Recorded By
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Views
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Validated by
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Simon Law
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655
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Joe Sparey
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Material
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Size (mm)
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Date
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Lead
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50mm x 32mm
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Circa 15th century
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Description:
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A flask-shaped pilgrim’s ampulla made from lead. The top is fragmentary and uneven. Below the top, the neck tapers in width towards the body. Two lugs have broken away from either side of the neck, leaving four stumps. In between the stumps, two raised lines transverse the neck. The disc shaped body has raised decoration on both sides. One side has a scallop-shell design. The other has a circular line surrounding a field of cross hatching. In the centre are two letters ‘SB’. The letters have exaggerated serifs, consistent with a c.15th century date. The meaning is unknown.
Mitchiner (see ref. below) suggests that many ampullae were used in the annual springtime ’Blessing the Fields’ ceremony, in which the Holy Water they contained was sprinkled on the ground to give prayer for a good harvest. Having served this purpose, Mitchiner suggests that the ampullae were discarded. Others have suggested that the ampullae were buried along with their contents for a similar purpose.
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Keywords:
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Pilgrim's ampulla
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Object Type:
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Pilgrim's ampulla
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Object Classification:
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Object Sub-classification:
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Object Description:
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Object Inscription:
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SB
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Period:
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Medieval
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Date Range:
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Circa 15th century
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Primary Material:
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Lead
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Additional Material:
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Method of Manufacture:
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Cast
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Surface Treatment:
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Condition:
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Weight (grams):
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Size (mm):
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50mm x 32mm
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References:
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Michael Mitchiner, Medieval Pilgrim & Secular Badges.
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Comments:
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Record created by:
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Simon Law
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Record creation date:
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27 April 2007
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Findspot:
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Salisbury
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County:
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WILTSHIRE
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Recorded elsewhere:
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No
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Finder:
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Simon Law
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Metal Detector Used:
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Explorer SE
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Record validated by:
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Joe Sparey
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;)
;)
Registered: June 2006