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AMPULLA
Unique ID: SOM-36CAC6
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete medieval ampulla. The object survives in relatively good condition, though flattened. It has the common 'amphora' shape, with two lugs either side of the neck forming very small handles. One face is decorated with a scallop shell design on the body, with a cross-hatched design above. The scallop shell was an emblem associated with St James the Greater and one that was so popular from the 11th century onwards that it eventually became a generic emblem for the act of pilgrimage itself (Spencer, 1998, 41). Canterbury first adopted the deign as its emblem on earlier ampullae. However, it was later used at a number of other shrines too (Spencer 1998, 41). The other face is decorated with a raised circle divided into four sections with a small dash in each one, surmounted by a cross with two 'V' shapes either side. Spencer (1998, 3) suggests that ampulla were popular in England from the second half of the 12th century until the early 14th century, when they were largely replaced by badges as the most popular type of pilgrimage memento. The metal is greyish-white in colour and slightly pitted.
Length: 47.4mm, width: 36.3mm, thickness: 5.5mm, Weight: 34.5g
An example probably representing a mould duplicate was found in Thorpe, Surrey (accessed: November 2023)
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1500
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 47.5 mm
Width: 36.3 mm
Thickness: 5.5 mm
Weight: 34.5 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 25th November 2008
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: Entry 020357
Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: Sedgemoor (District)
To be known as: Near Bawdrip
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer, B. | 1998 | Pilgrim Souvenirs and Secular Badges | London | Medieval Finds from Excavations in London 7 | 3,41 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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