Craft, Industry and Everyday Life: Finds from Medieval York

544 Pages·2002·9.247 MB·English

by  Patrick Ottaway, Nicola Rogers

Craft, Industry and Everyday Life:
Finds from Medieval York
By Patrick Ottaway and Nicola Rogers
Published for the York Archaeological Trust by the
Council for British Archaeology 2002

Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................2673
Archaeological Introductions to the Sites ..........................................................................................................2674
Conservation Report by J. Jones, with a contribution by E. Paterson ..................................................................2696
Craft and Industry ......................................................................................................................................................2703
Building...................................................................................................................................................................2705
Metalworking with a contribution by C. Mortimer ..............................................................................................2707
Woodworking ........................................................................................................................................................2724
Leatherworking .....................................................................................................................................................2728
Textile production by P. Walton Rogers ................................................................................................................2732
Jet working .............................................................................................................................................................2745
Agriculture .............................................................................................................................................................2745
Fishing .....................................................................................................................................................................2747
Knives with contributions by J.G. McDonnell, D. Starley and K. Wiemer ...........................................................2751
Everyday Life ...............................................................................................................................................................2799
Domestic with contributions by G.D. Gaunt and R. Tyson ...................................................................................2799
Structural items and fittings with a contribution by R. Tyson ............................................................................2827
Locks and keys .......................................................................................................................................................2861
Dress, dress accessories and personal ornament with contributions by M.E. Hutchinson, S. Rees and
P. Walton Rogers ..............................................................................................................................................2880
Medical and toilet instruments ............................................................................................................................2931
Writing and literacy...............................................................................................................................................2934
Funerary and devotional objects .........................................................................................................................2942
Music and recreation .............................................................................................................................................2949
Trade and exchange...............................................................................................................................................2952
Horse and riding equipment ...............................................................................................................................2956
Weapons and armour ............................................................................................................................................2967
Miscellaneous objects with a contribution by G.D. Gaunt ..................................................................................2971
Unidentified objects ..............................................................................................................................................2971
Intra- and Inter-Site Analyses ....................................................................................................................................2975
Economy and Society in Medieval York ..................................................................................................................2998
Future Research on Medieval Artefacts ...................................................................................................................3003
Additional Anglo-Scandinavian Ironwork with a contribution by K. Wiemer ......................................................3005
Catalogue......................................................................................................................................................................3013
Appendix One: Data used in the chronological analysis of the ironwork ..........................................................3161
Appendix Two: Data used in the inter- and intra-site spatial analysis of the ironwork ..................................3164
Appendix Three: Analysis of non-ferrous platings and deposits on ironwork .................................................3167

List of Figures
1301 Plan showing position of (1) 16–22 Coppergate; (2) area of Watching Brief; (3) 22 Piccadilly;
and (4) St Mary, Castlegate .............................................................................................................................2676
1302 Plans of the site at 16–22 Coppergate showing the area of deposits excavated for Period 6 ...........2680–1
1303 Plan showing the location of excavations, and building recording in the Bedern area .......................2686
1304 Plan showing the position of the excavations at 46–54 Fishergate ..........................................................2689
1305 Order of construction of the original (Period 6a) priory and reconstructed plan of the west
range at 46–54 Fishergate ................................................................................................................................2692
1306 Plan of the priory in Period 6c ......................................................................................................................2693
1307 Comparison of the ratio of finds of metal to finds of other inorganic materials from Coppergate, Bedern
(all sites) and Fishergate .................................................................................................................................2698
1308 Metal finds from Coppergate, Bedern (all sites) and Fishergate ..............................................................2699
1309 Non-metal finds from Coppergate, Bedern (all sites) and Fishergate .....................................................2699
1310 Ratio of ferrous to non-ferrous metals at all Bedern sites before the addition of ironwork
from bulk finds .................................................................................................................................................2700
1311 Ratio of ferrous to non-ferrous metals at all Bedern sites after the addition of ironwork
from bulk finds .................................................................................................................................................2700
1312 Ratio of ferrous to non-ferrous metals at Fishergate ..................................................................................2700
1313 Ratio of ferrous to non-ferrous metals at Coppergate ...............................................................................2700
1314 Other sites in York mentioned in the text ....................................................................................................2702
1315 Map of Britain showing the main sites mentioned in the text..................................................................2703
1316 Builders’ tools: trowel 13676 from Bedern; pickaxe head 13156 from the Foundry ..............................2704
1317 Plumb-bobs 12938 from 16–22 Coppergate, 14511–12 from Bedern, 15257–8 from
46–54 Fishergate ...............................................................................................................................................2705
1318 Debris from ironworking in the form of bars, strips and plates from 16–22 Coppergate,
the Foundry and Bedern .................................................................................................................................2706
1319 Ironworking hearth, c.1340, from The Romance of Alexander .....................................................................2707
1320 Crucible 13512 from Bedern ..........................................................................................................................2710
1321 Stone casting moulds: 13436–7 from Bedern; 14734 from 46–54 Fishergate ...........................................2713
1322 Failed castings from the Foundry and Bedern ............................................................................................2714
1323 Failed castings from St Andrewgate .............................................................................................................2714
1324 Copper alloy scrap 14171–2 from Bedern, 15140–2 from 46–54 Fishergate; silver wire 14643
from Bedern Chapel ........................................................................................................................................2715
1325 Lead alloy scrap from Bedern and 46–54 Fishergate .................................................................................2716
1326 Tongs 13677 from Bedern and 14860 from 46–54 Fishergate; hammer 11460 from
16–22 Coppergate.............................................................................................................................................2719
1327 Metalworking tools: punches and tongs .....................................................................................................2720
1328 Punches from 16–22 Coppergate, the Coppergate watching brief, 22 Piccadilly, the Foundry,
Bedern and 46–54 Fishergate..........................................................................................................................2721
1329 Tanged punches from 16–22 Coppergate ....................................................................................................2722
1330 File 11484 from 16–22 Coppergate ................................................................................................................2723
1331 Detail of file 13687 from Bedern, showing cross-cut teeth ........................................................................2723
1332 Axes 12974 from the Coppergate watching brief and 13020 from 22 Piccadilly ....................................2724
1333 Noah building the Ark using woodworking tools, c.1420–30 ..................................................................2724
1334 Axe 13020 from 22 Piccadilly .........................................................................................................................2725
1335 Spoon augers from 16–22 Coppergate, Bedern and 46–54 Fishergate; twist auger from
16–22 Coppergate.............................................................................................................................................2725
1336 Woodworking tools: drawknife, wedges, saw blade, tanged chisel and rasp .......................................2726
1337 Woodworking tools: augers, twist auger, chisel, wedges, rasp and drawknife .....................................2727
1338 Awls from 16–22 Coppergate, Bedern and 46–54 Fishergate ....................................................................2729
1339 Awls from 16–22 Coppergate ........................................................................................................................2730
1340 Currier’s knife 11537 from 16–22 Coppergate ............................................................................................2730
1341 Currier’s knives from 16–22 Coppergate and leatherworker’s slicker from the Foundry ...................2731
1342 Tools used in fibre processing: part of a wool-comb from Bedern; iron spikes from
16–22 Coppergate, 22 Piccadilly and Bedern ...............................................................................................2733
1343 A woman using long-toothed wool combs in a 15th century French manuscript ................................2736
1344 Globular medieval spindle whorls from the Foundry and Bedern .........................................................2737
1345 Tools used in weaving: toothed weft-beater from 16–22 Coppergate and a bone pin-beater
from Bedern ......................................................................................................................................................2738
1346 Iron tenter hooks or hooks for suspending wall hangings from 16–22 Coppergate, the Foundry
and Bedern ........................................................................................................................................................2738
1347 Iron needles from 16–22 Coppergate, copper alloy needles from Bedern, copper alloy
thimbles from the Foundry, Bedern and 46–54 Fishergate, iron scissors from Bedern .........................2740
1348 Needles from Bedern and 22 Piccadilly .......................................................................................................2741
1349 Netting needles from 16–22 Coppergate and Bedern, so-called couching needles from
2 Aldwark and 46–54 Fishergate, knitting needle from 2 Aldwark .........................................................2742
1350 Copper alloy knitting needles from 2 Aldwark and the Foundry ...........................................................2744
1351 Iron spade sheaths from 16–22 Coppergate and the Foundry, iron sickle from the
Coppergate watching brief .............................................................................................................................2746
1352 Fishing equipment: iron fish hooks from 16–22 Coppergate, lead alloy net sinkers from 46–54
Fishergate, lead alloy net weights from 16–22 Coppergate and Bedern, stone net weights
from 46–54 Fishergate .....................................................................................................................................2748
1353 Iron shears from 16–22 Coppergate and Bedern ........................................................................................2749
1354 Iron scissiors from Bedern, iron shears from 22 Piccadilly, Bedern and 16–22 Coppergate ................2750
1355 Iron knives of blade back form A and B.......................................................................................................2751
1356 Iron knives of blade back form C1 ................................................................................................................2752
1357 Iron knives of blade back form C3 and Ci ...................................................................................................2754
1358 Iron knives of blade back forms D and E; iron knife with a blade of unusual form; iron knife
with curled over blade tip ..............................................................................................................................2755
1359 Detail of 11837, an iron knife from 16–22 Coppergate, showing inlaid copper wire ............................2757
1360 Detail of 13777, an iron knife from Bedern, showing inlaid crosses ........................................................2757
1361 Detail of 13792, an iron knife from Bedern, showing inlay of mercury gilded silver ...........................2757
1362 Detail of 13184, an iron knife from the Foundry, showing inlaid silver wire .........................................2757
1363 Knives of indeterminate blade back form ...................................................................................................2758
1364 Jet handle fragment from Bedern, copper alloy hilt-plates from 16–22 Coppergate and Bedern .......2759
1365 Scale tang knives from the Foundry, Bedern and Bedern Chapel; knives with iron tangs
from Bedern ......................................................................................................................................................2761
1366 Micrograph of ferritic iron .............................................................................................................................2764
1367 Micrograph of phosphoric iron .....................................................................................................................2764
1368 Micrograph of tempered martensite ............................................................................................................2765
1369 Micrograph of pattern welding .....................................................................................................................2765
1370 Schematic cross-sections of knife types .......................................................................................................2766
1371 Location of metallographic sections and schematic cross-sections for Group 1 knives .......................2767
1372 Early medieval knife 11817 showing macro-structure Type 0 ..................................................................2768
1373 Early medieval knife 11818 showing manufacture Type 1d .....................................................................2768
1374 Location of metallographic samples and schematic cross-sections for Group 2 knives .......................2771
1375 Knife 11803 showing Type 1e manufacture .................................................................................................2772
1376 Knife 11830 showing Type 1c manufacture .................................................................................................2774
1377 Knife 11860 showing Type 1e manufacture .................................................................................................2775
1378 Knife 11888 showing Type 2 manufacture ...................................................................................................2776
1379 Location of metallographic sections and schematic cross-sections for Group 3 knives .......................2778
1380 Pivoting knives from 16–22 Coppergate; miscellaneous blades from 16–22 Coppergate and
Bedern; paring knife from 46–54 Fishergate; folding knife from Bedern; sharpening steel
from 46–54 Fishergate .....................................................................................................................................2792
1381 Schist hones from 16–22 Coppergate, Bedern and 46–54 Fishergate .......................................................2795
1382 Phyllite hones from 16–22 Coppergate; sandstone hones from 16–22 Coppergate and
46–54 Fishergate; possible hones from 16–22 Coppergate .........................................................................2796
1383 Fragment of a rotary grindstone 14746 from 46–54 Fishergate ................................................................2797
1384 Manuscript illustration showing the use of a rotary grindstone to sharpen a knife .............................2798
1385 Stone mortars from 16–22 Coppergate, 22 Piccadilly and the Foundry ..................................................2801
1386 Stone mortars from Bedern; stone pestles from Bedern and 46–54 Fishergate ......................................2802
1387 Copper alloy spoon 14190 from Bedern; unfinished lead alloy spoon handle 4279 from
16–22 Coppergate.............................................................................................................................................2803
1388 Iron flesh hooks from 16–22 Coppergate and Bedern; iron strike-a-lights from
16–22 Coppergate and the Foundry; iron shovels from 16–22 Coppergate; shovel handle
from the Coppergate watching brief .............................................................................................................2804
1389 Kitchen scene from the Luttrell Psalter showing the use of a flesh hook and skimmer, knives,
and wooden pestle with stone mortar ..........................................................................................................2805
1390 Iron shovel 11918 during excavation ............................................................................................................2806
1391 Wooden bucket with iron fittings 8742 from 16–22 Coppergate ..............................................................2807
1392 Wooden bucket 8742 in situ in an early 15th century well at 16–22 Coppergate ..................................2808
1393 Iron vessel handle 11920 from 16–22 Coppergate and 13037 from 22 Piccadilly ...................................2809
1394 Parts of cast copper alloy vessels from the Foundry and Bedern; leg and foot of a cast
lead alloy vessel from Bedern ........................................................................................................................2810
1395 Complete bowl of copper alloy sheet from 46–54 Fishergate; fragments of copper alloy
sheet vessels from 16–22 Coppergate and the Foundry; rim fragments of a pewter sheet vessel
from 16–22 Coppergate ....................................................................................................................................2811
1396 Top view of copper alloy bowl 15150 from 46–54 Fishergate ...................................................................2812
1397 Detail of copper alloy bowl 15150 showing turning marks ......................................................................2813
1398 Copper alloy box 13004 from the Coppergate watching brief ..................................................................2814
1399 Copper alloy repair patches from 16–22 Coppergate, the Foundry, 2 Aldwark and
46–54 Fishergate; copper alloy sheet rivet from Bedern ............................................................................2815
1400 Map of Europe showing the main sites mentioned in the glass report...................................................2816
1401 Glass vessels in use c.1500, from the Sforza Hours ......................................................................................2817
1402 Vessel glass fragments from 16–22 Coppergate, the Foundry and Bedern ......................................2818–19
1403 Fragment of blue glass with black painted decoration from Bedern ......................................................2821
1404 Fragments of jug or pouring flask 13538 from Bedern with blue-green trailing ...................................2823
1405 A mid 15th century illustration showing physicians examining glass urinals ......................................2825
1406 Reconstruction of glass still with alembic ...................................................................................................2826
1407 Stone vessel, possibly a trough, from Bedern .............................................................................................2828
1408 Tin-plated iron nails from Coppergate; tin-plated iron stud from Bedern; iron nail with a
pointed head from 2 Aldwark; decorative iron bosses from Coppergate; copper alloy tacks
from Bedern and Fishergate; lead alloy nail from Fishergate; copper alloy and lead alloy
knops from Bedern; iron clench bolts from Coppergate; iron staple from Bedern; copper
alloy staples from Bedern and Fishergate; iron collars from Coppergate ...............................................2829
1409 Iron wall anchors from 16–22 Coppergate and Bedern; iron eyed bar from Bedern; iron
gutter support from 46–54 Fishergate; iron window bar from Bedern ....................................................2831
1410 Diagrammatic reconstruction showing how a wall anchor was used ....................................................2832
1411 Diagrammatic reconstruction showing how a gutter support was used ................................................2832
1412 Roofing lead from 46–54 Fishergate; lead window cames from Bedern Chapel and
46–54 Fishergate; gilded cast lead star from 46–54 Fishergate ..................................................................2833
1413 Iron hinge pivots from Coppergate; iron latch rests from Coppergate and Fishergate; iron
wall hooks from Coppergate, the watching brief, the Foundry, Bedern and Fishergate ......................2835
1414 Iron S-hooks from 16–22 Coppergate, the Coppergate watching brief and 2 Aldwark;
small iron swivel hooks from 16–22 Coppergate and 46–54 Fishergate ..................................................2836
1415 Complete iron hinge straps on a wooden shutter from 16–22 Coppergate ............................................2837
1416 Iron hinge straps from 16–22 Coppergate and 46–54 Fishergate .............................................................2838
1417 Iron hinge straps from Bedern ......................................................................................................................2839
1418 Iron U-eyed hinge straps from 16–22 Coppergate and Bedern ................................................................2840
1419 Iron figure-of-eight-shaped hasps from 16–22 Coppergate and 46–54 Fishergate ................................2841
1420 Iron T-shaped hinge strap from Coppergate; small iron U-eyed hinge from a casket from
Coppergate; tin-plated iron pinned hinges from Bedern; copper alloy hinge fittings from
Bedern; parts of iron corner brackets from Coppergate and the watching brief ....................................2842