Ms. Geddes, we will take that off your hands. It is the receptacle for our Sacred Parchment.
Posted on 06/11/2004 4:06:53 PM PDT by blam
STONEMASONS UNCOVER MEDIAEVAL MYSTERY
09:00 - 11 June 2004
Mediaeval pots dating from the 14th to 16th centuries have been discovered in one of Aberdeen's most historic buildings.
They were found by masons repointing the west wall of one of Aberdeen University's oldest buildings. The four broken pottery jugs were carefully placed behind stones which, in two cases, had been trimmed away at the rear to accommodate them.
The pots were found in King's College Chapel. They had all had their rims and handles removed and were on their sides, with the bases facing the interior of the wall.
Elsewhere in the building, gaps in joints are filled with chips of slate, so the pots had clearly been hidden deliberately. Archaeologists and historians are puzzled about why the jugs are there and would like to know if similar examples have been found elsewhere.
Pots in walls are unusual, but not unknown. Larger vessels, known as acoustic jars, were inserted into interior church walls, usually at the east end, to improve the sound.
Sealed "witch bottles" were placed in strategic parts of domestic buildings, such as under the hearth or under the threshold.
Masons sometimes left a sealed time capsule at the wall head to celebrate the topping-out ceremony. This would contain a memento from the masons, perhaps even their names. Jane Geddes, senior lecturer in art history at Aberdeen University, said: "Our pots are not sealed and were found halfway up the wall in the King's College Chapel. It may be significant that they are at the same level as the three heraldic plaques.
"We are interested in finding out what the jars were used for - could it be that the jars were used as handy paint pots for painting the heraldry, although there were no traces of paint found on the pots?
"Another possible explanation is that they were left as holes for birds' nests, although this is unlikely on the most prestigious front of the chapel. The condition and placing of the pots is clearly deliberate." Judith Stones, of Aberdeen City Council's archaeological unit, is equally puzzled.
She said: "These were originally small, squat jugs, about 15cm (6in) in diameter, of a type made in the Aberdeen area between the late 14th and 16th centuries.
"They are, therefore, probably contemporary with the building of the chapel in the early 1500s. This is a very intriguing discovery."
The find is on display in King's College Chapel until the end of June.
Ms Geddes said: "Any suggestions as to their purpose, or information about other examples, would be gratefully received."
Interesting ... you always post such cool stuff!
GGG Ping.
Maybe like horseshoes. They are tipped so the luck flows out.
Sort of like the peep holes built into the Clinton library?
I would have been nice if the reporter had included something about the contents of the jars other than that there was no paint residue. Were they new and pristine or had they been used? Were they covered or left open when emplaced?
Who controls the British crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do! We do!
Who keeps Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We do! We do!
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star?
We do! We do!
Who robs the cave fish of their sight?
Who rigs every Oscar night?
We do! We do!
I love that episode. "Remove the Stone of Shame . . ." ("Woohoo!") ". . . and attach the Stone of Triumph!" ("D'oh!")
Is it a sign that I freep too much
when I can tell who posted the article
just by reading the title?
You find the greatest stuff, blam.
Thanks.
Since you mentioned it. What's with the 'good luck' with the horse shoe? I just built a new shed and I put a horse shoe over the door for good luck. What's with that?
Thanks, It's a hobby.
I hope you turned it upside-right-wards
so the luck don't run out of it...
Don't know but it makes a difference if you have it turned with the horseshoe "catching luck" or turned 180 and missing out on the "luck!" So, I'm told....LOL
Hope you mounted the shoe right. The points must be down.
NO !
UP !
You're supposed to mount it like a 'U'.
Points down. The shoe will pour luck on you if the points are down. The shoe must be genuine and have seven nail holes. Do it right or it won't work.
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