© Copyright John Palmer.
This is work in progress, last updated 2008-08-12.
Please use this link
to send me comments and suggestions.
Guide to standard
measurements of mortars (opens in a separate window if possible)
In Purbeck-
- name Ower possible mortar
- cat DOUBTFUL
- site Ower Peninsula, c.1990
- grid SZ 00 86
- publ Cox and Hearne 1991 p.176-7
- desc Stone report by JM Mills: A possible grinding hollow or mortar
is incomplete
(fig.80
no.2). Compared to
an unfinished mortar from Norden,
or alternatively might be
a base for a post.
- desc If this is a mortar it had a hole in the base.
Measurements from published drawing, base thickness around 45mm
thinning to under 15mm at edge of hole. JP: Doubtfully a mortar
- subst Mills: PL
- date Roman industrial site
-
- name Wareham mortar
- cat DOUBTFUL
- site Wareham
- grid SY 92 88
- source Farrar 1954 p.83 footnote
- publ DCM acquisition list 1931 p.7
- desc Farrar: A Purbeck mortar, found in Wareham, mentioned in a list
of items that he says indicate Roman activity.
Acquisition list: "Purbeck Stone Mortar, from Wareham.
Presented by Dr G. Dru Drury", NOI
- loc given to DCM 1931
- subst PL
- date Farrar implies Roman, but it may not be so
- comment more enquiries are required
-
- name Worgret PL Mortar
- site Worgret, nr Wareham, 1986-7
- grid SY 9125 8690
- publ Hearne CM, Smith RH 1991
esp. p.96, fig.21(2)
- desc ``lower part (JP's emphasis) of a PL mortar ...
has a slightly curved exterior (max.height 80mm)
and a level sub-circular base (diam. 200mm).
The interior is rounded and completely worn through the centre of the base,
leaving a hole, approx. 120mm diam.
Context 144, [small finds no.] 27, Period 3 [Romano-British].''
The Fig. shows clearly that this is not the
DCM 0-230-1 (which also has a hole).
- desc
Profile.
Measured from drawing: D 180mm, K 28mm, L 28mm
Explanation
- loc ? DCM
- subst Hearne and Smith:
Purbeck limestone (PL)
- date site period 3, late C1 to C4
-
-
- name Frend's Worbarrow Mortar
- site Worbarrow Bay
- grid SY 87 NE, 88 SE (RCHM)
- grid SY 8693 8003 to 8701 7995 (Farrar 1967)
- source RCHM 1970, p.524, p.612 no.40
- source Beavis p.200
- publ Frend WHC circa 1936, MS
- publ Frend WHC 1949
- publ Calkin JB 1953
- publ Calkin JB 1967
- desc part of an unfinished lugged mortar of Purbeck burr-stone.
Associated with a loom-weight of PM,
(also `part of a quern' and `a large grindstone') and with evidence for
shale-working and perhaps PM and salt industries:
near the PM outcrop at Worbarrow Tout.
- desc Half of a shallow mortar, with side lugs, of PM
- desc Frend 1949: much of site washed away; within living memory
there were two mounds by the sea, containing much burnt wheat and black
[BB?] pottery; from one of these Frend retrieved a bronze pin which he
deposited in DCM
- loc DCM, acc.no. 1936.18 (Beavis),
acc.no. 1937.18.43, box LM/73 (DCM computerised catalogue).
Beavis could not find the
associated loomweight, nor the grindstone nor the quern frag, in DCM
- subst Beavis: Burr-stone [Broken Shell Beds,
Clements DB220: JP].
Beavis: ``[burr-stone] the second layer of the Purbeck limestone,
directly below the Marble.'' PL therefore.
- date Found with pottery consistent with C1 date.
Coin (AE1) of Commodus (180-192AD) not well stratified;
`picked up on the cliff slopes'
- comment A part of a quern
is also recorded at Worbarrow Bay by
Miles WA 1842
- comment Frend claims to have found a floor of shingle and
Purbeck stone overlying 6in of blackened earth. He says the stone
was reused and that the loomweight and mortarium were among the reused
stones. Calkin
considers that the stone layer (which extends for 125yd) is a layer of
occupation débris rather than a deliberately laid floor.
- comment
It is now clear to me that the 2 (or even 3) Worbarrow mortars which
I once catalogued are one and the same
- comment
The following can only be background matter, for date reasons:
Miles WA 1826,
The Deverel Barrow, 34-9;
Pennie JF 1827, Tale of a Modern Genius 2, 336-41;
Austen JH 1857;
Warne 1872, Ancient Dorset, p.327-9.
-
- name Miles' Kimmeridge Mortar
- site Kimmeridge Bay
- grid SY 97 NW
- source RCHM 1970 p.609
- publ Miles WA 1826,
The Deverel Barrow ?p.34-39?
(but these pages relate to Worbarrow Bay and coal-money)
- publ Austen JH 1857 quotes
Miles: `found a portion of a shallow circular patera,
not destitute of elegance, and formed of granite'. This appears to be the
source of the statement in RCHM 1970
- desc A mortar of `granite' (RCHM suggests probably PM)
- loc lost
- subst unknown
- comment Also mentions a cist burial, material of cist unstated
-
- name Arish Mell Mortar
- site Arish Mell, Worbarrow Bay nr Lulworth
- grid SY 85 80
- source Dunning's map
- desc
Dunning's map
lists a PM mortar from Arish Mell.
The only plausible candidate is a mortar on display in Dorset County Museum
case 4 (2.2-2.4),
even though this is definitely not PM.
It is a four-lugged mortar (all lugs present) of Roman type,
of limestone containing close-packed water-laid fragments of shell,
not unlike
Broken Shell Limestone (Purbeck Burr).
Labelled as "mortar of limestone from a barrow at Arish Mell", with comment
that it was probably found as a secondary burial in a Bronze Age barrow.
Label gives accession no. as 0.231.1
- desc Dimensions by eye (from outside the case): B 200mm, H 60
Explanation
- desc
Photo by JP, 2005-08.15
- loc DCM, on display 2000 Oct, 2008 Mar,
case 4 (2.2-2.4),
acc. no. on label 0.231.1
- subst PL (Purbeck Burr)
- comment search in DCM computer register c.2000 showed that 0.231.1 was
a piece of lace; something odd here!
-
- name Compact Farm PL mortar 4
- site Compact Farm, Worth Matravers, c.2000
- grid SY 975 780
- source Graham, Hinton and Peacock 2002
p.42-3, fig.1.27 no,4
- desc `Pieces of three fine mortaria ... one reused in the field-barn's
reconstruction'
- desc Measured from published drawings:
A 282mm, B 241, C 196, D 200, H 78, I 61, K 37, L 37, P 41, Q 55
Explanation
- loc `All worked stone from the site was kept and recorded' p.41
- subst PL, sandy
- cont Figures drawn by
Kathryn Knowles
-
- name Compact Farm PL mortar 5
- site Compact Farm, Worth Matravers, c.2000
- grid SY 975 780
- source Graham, Hinton and Peacock 2002
p.42-3, fig.1.27 no.5
- desc `Pieces of three fine mortaria ... one reused in the field-barn's
reconstruction'
- desc Measured from published drawings:
A 235mm, B 212, C 163, D 171, H 73, I 57, K 37, L 37, P 41, Q 33
Explanation
- loc `All worked stone from the site was kept and recorded' p.41
- subst PL, sandy
- cont Figures drawn by
Kathryn Knowles
-
- name Compact Farm PL mortar 6
- site Compact Farm, Worth Matravers, c.2000
- grid SY 975 780
- source Graham, Hinton and Peacock 2002
p.42-3, fig.1.27 no.6
- desc `Pieces of three fine mortaria ... one reused in the field-barn's
reconstruction'
- desc Measured from published drawings:
A 286mm, B 245, C 229, D 180, H 86, K 41, L 41, P 55, Q 73
Explanation
- loc `All worked stone from the site was kept and recorded' p.41
- subst PL, sandy
- cont Figures drawn by
Kathryn Knowles
-
-
- name Square and Compass shallow Burr bowl
- site Worth Matravers site A
- grid SY 97 NE
- source Square and Compass Inn museum
- desc "Mortarium" (shallow bowl) broken in manufacture.
2 parts, CA/066 is the larger. Burrstone.
- desc Photographs by JP, ref.2005-10:
.02 General view,
.03 Vertical from above,
.04 Horizontal view of broken edge
- desc Estimated from photographs 03 and 04:
B 277mm, C 227, D 231, H 52, I 23, K 42, L 42
Explanation
- loc Square and Compass archaeological collection,
CA/066 and CA/O67, the former is the larger piece
- subst Purbeck Burrstone (PL) (DB220) (C Newman, JP)
- date Site has yielded much Roman material
- comment This is a very shallow dish, not a normal Roman-pattern mortar;
its function is disputable.
- cont Charlie Newman
-
-
- name Square and Compass rectangular Burr mortar
- site Worth Matravers site A
- grid SY 97 NE
- source Square and Compass Inn museum
- desc
CA/064 or 065. Mortarium broken in manufacture. Purbeck Burrstone.
The fragment is a right-angled corner.
- desc Photos by JP, ref.2005-10:
.07 Vertical from above,
.08 Horizontal view of broken edge,
.09 Oblique general view
- desc Estimated from photographs 07 and 08:
A, B, C not determinable (because the object is not circular),
H 90, I 45, L 57
Explanation
- loc Square and Compass archaeological collection,
CA/064 or CA/O65 (the numbers are faded)
- subst Purbeck Burrstone (PL) (DB220) (C Newman, JP)
- date Site has yielded much Roman material
- interp interpretation
- comment comment
- cont Charlie Newman
-
- name Square and Compass Compact Farm mortar
- site Compact Farm, Worth Matravers
- grid SY 975 780 approx.
- source Square and Compass Inn museum
- desc
Compact Farm. Mortarium fragment.
Purbeck Marble, perhaps the top bed (C Newman).
Abraded interior of base. No lug survives.
- desc Photos by JP, ref.2005-10:
.10 Oblique general view
- desc Estimated from photograph: B-C 22mm, K 14mm
Explanation
- loc Square and Compass archaeological collection
- subst Purbeck Marble (PM) (C Newman), perhaps
DB244 (JP)
- date probable Roman-pattern mortar
from known Roman site
- cont Charlie Newman
-
- name Square and Compass lugged Burr mortar
- site Worth Matravers site A
- grid SY 97 NE
- source Square and Compass Inn museum
- desc Not in C Newman's catalogue of site A.
1/4 fragment of Burr mortarium. One lug present, without groove.
- desc Photos by JP, ref.2005-10:
.11 Vertical from above,
.12 Horizontal, radial view of lug,
.13 Horizontal, view of broken edge showing lug tangentially in profile
- desc Estimated rom photographs:
A 203mm, B 171, C 149, D 156?, H 38, I 26, L 29, P 40, Q 26
Explanation
- loc Square and Compass archaeological collection
- subst Purbeck Burrstone (PL) (DB220) (C Newman, JP)
- cont Charlie Newman
-
-
- name Square and Compass lugged PM mortar
- site Worth Matravers site A
- grid SY 97 NE
- source Square and Compass Inn museum
- desc
Not in C Newman's catalogue of site A.
Fragment of mortarium. Purbeck Marble, with one lug
which does not show a pouring groove.
- desc Photos by JP, ref.2005-10:
.15 vertical,
.16 cut edge showing profile,
.17 radial view of lug,
.22 general view,
.23 probably another view of this object
- desc Estimated from photographs 15, 16, 17:
A 346mm, B 316, C 256, D indet., H 63, I 40, K 40, L 40, P 58, Q 37
Explanation
- loc Square and Compass archaeological collection
- subst Purbeck Marble (PM) (C Newman, JP)
- cont Charlie Newman
-
- name Square and Compass cliffstone pebble mortar
- cat RELATED
- site Worth Matravers site B
- grid SY 97 NE
- source Square and Compass Inn museum
- desc
SF/00068. Mortarium on seaworn pebble of Purbeck-Portland cliffstone.
- desc Photos by JP, ref.2005-10:
.18 vertical,
.19 view of broken edge
- desc Estimated from photographs: B, C, D measured on cut edge;
B 184mm, C 127, D 156, H 58, I 30, K 42, L 42
Explanation
- loc Square and Compass archaeological collection, SF/00068
- subst Portland Stone (PS) (C Newman)
- date site has produced much Roman material
- comment A shallow bowl, apparently not circular.
Its function is disputable.
- cont Charlie Newman
-
- name Square and Compass "medieval" mortars
- cat DOUBTFUL
- site Unknown, Worth Matravers area
- source Square and Compass Inn museum
- desc Two large mortaria, unfinished, presumed medieval
- desc Photo by JP:
2005-10.21, general view
- desc overall diam. of larger about 300mm, smaller over 200mm.
- loc Square and Compass archaeological collection
- subst PL
- date four lugged type is medieval as well as Roman
- cont Charlie Newman
-
-
-
- name Langton Museum Mortar
- site Rope Lake Hole Romano-British site
(pers. comm. Reg Saville)
- grid SY 932 777 (Sunter and Woodward 1987)
- source Langton Matravers Museum
- publ Sunter and Woodward 1987 (for
the site, not for this find, which was made on a different occasion)
- publ Green 1992 (for other chance
finds from this site)
- desc Burr-stone mortarium. Slightly less than one-quarter of the whole
remains, including one lug without any groove.
Fragment 10cm by 9cm overall; B 200mm, H 75mm.
- loc Langton Matravers Museum, lent by Dennis Smale. On display 2003-06-23
and 2008-08-11,
described as from 'Romano-British farm site at Kingston'
- subst Langton Museum: PL, Burr-stone
- cont Reg Saville
- cont Dennis Smale
-
- name Haysom's Langton mortar
- cat REJECT (date)
- site Talbot Wood, Langton Matravers
- grid SY 998 793
- source National Trust 1996-2002
- desc National Trust SMR:
Trev Haysom
found a PM mortar in Talbot Wood at SY 998 793 which
is now in Langton Matravers Museum. NT no.112,795.
See Wilkswood quarry site.
- desc Langton Museum: 25cm by 14cm by 15cm high.
Pronounced toolmarks, not smoothed off, suggest breakage during making.
(Reg Saville,
pers. comm. 2004-07-12)
- desc JP observation: less than a quarter of circumference present, with
one (badly chipped) lug. Inside has deep spiral chisel marks, consistent
with the article being unfinished.
- loc Langton Matravers Museum. On display, 2008-08-11
- subst Langton Museum, NT SMR: PM
- date Langton Museum: medieval (but from the words on the display caption
it seems this judgment is based mainly on its rather large size)
- comment Not to be confused with
Dunning's Langton mortar or
Dennis Smale's mortar
in Langton Museum.
- cont
Treleven Haysom
- cont Reg Saville
-
-
- name Mrs Stillwell's Norden Mortar
- site Norden, Corfe Castle
- grid SY 94 83
- source Beavis p.203
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.30
- publ RCHM Inventory, Dorset SE, p.598
- publ Beavis 1970 p.203
- publ Farrar 1951 p.87
- desc A disc of marble, conjectured to have been the bottom of a
mortarium, in the collection of Mrs Stillwell 1887-9, which included
part-finished marble and mortaria, and was given to DCM but now lost.
- desc Farrar: Quernstones and a disc of PM which may be from Norden are
mentioned among Mrs H. Stilwell's gifts to DCM in 1887 and 1889"; in
discussion of Roman finds from the claypit area of Creech and Norden.
- loc lost
- subst PM ?
-
- name Norden PM Mortar no.1
- site Norden, Corfe Castle, 1968-9
- grid SY 957 827
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.36ff
and microfiche 7
- desc Rim base and one lug of mortar with curved sides, base not flat.
No toolmarks, unpolished. Pit 3.2, S of field boundary.
Illus. p.36,
fig.24, no.1.
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 280mm, B 240, C 192, D 160, H 92?, K 32, L 32, P 36, Q 36
Explanation
- loc DCM
- subst Thomas: PM
- date not stated
- comment Dunning
believed the curved type was before AD150 and the straight after AD350.
Thomas C ?date
disagrees.
-
- name Norden PM Mortar no.2
- site Norden, Corfe Castle, 1968-9
- grid SY 957 827
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.36ff
and microfiche 7
- desc Rim and base of mortar with curved sides, no lugs surviving. Base
very thick, 56mm. Unpolished; weathered, pitted surface. Top of rim smooth,
next 50mm inside and out nearly as smooth. Rest of surface, inside and out,
rough and pitted except for edge of base, where surface slightly smooth.
Unfinished tooling on base. Unstratified.
Illus. p.36,
fig.24, no.2.
- desc Measured from published drawing: B 256mm, C 212, D 164, H 108, I 66, K 60, L 60
Explanation
- loc DCM
- subst Thomas: PM
- date unstratified
- comment See comment to
Norden PM mortar no.1
-
- name Norden PM Mortar no.3
- site Norden, Corfe Castle, 1968-9
- grid SY 957 827
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.36ff
and microfiche 7
- desc Base of unpolished mortar with straight sides. Outside smooth,
interior rougher. Surfaces flaking. No tool marks.
Unstratified.
Illus. p.36,
fig.24, no.3.
- desc JP: 3 pieces of one very shallow PM bowl, (with lugs?),
one piece marked NO68/14 and 4 in triangle. Over three-quarters
of the circumference remain. (I assume this is Thomas's Norden PM Mortar
no.3, though some doubt remains, e.g. because Thomas doesn't mention it
being in 3 pieces, and only one piece is illustrated in the excavation
report !)
- desc Measured from published drawing: D 256mm, K 40, L 40
Explanation
- loc DCM.
On display, 2000 Oct,
case 37
- subst Thomas: PM
- date unstratified
- comment See comment to
Norden PM mortar no.1. The present item
(no.3) is straight-sided and so by Dunning's hypothesis should be late;
however the hypothesis is doubtful, see
PM mortar no.5 below.
-
- name Norden PM Mortar no.4
- site Norden, Corfe Castle, 1968-9
- grid SY 957 827
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.36ff
and microfiche 7
- desc Fragment of base of mortar, or bowl, with exterior of base very
poorly defined. Interior rough, with toolmarks, 5-8mm wide, probably
made with pointed chisel. Diameter of base c.180-200m.
Period 4 (c.140AD, dated by pottery mortarium) road
(which lay along S and W of excavated area).
Illus. p.36,
fig.24, no.4 and
p.39,
plate 14.
- desc Measured from published drawing: L 40mm
Explanation
- loc DCM
- subst Thomas: PM
- date c.140AD ?
- comment See comment to
Norden PM mortar no.1
-
- name Norden PM Mortar no.5
- site Norden, Corfe Castle, 1968-9
- grid SY 957 827
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.36ff
and microfiche 7
- desc Rim, base and one lug of unfinished mortar with curved sides in
pinkish Purbeck marble of very good quality which has not weathered
and flaked as have
no.2 and
no.3.
The pinkish colour may be caused by iron-staining in the stone, or by
burning, more probably the former (RW Sanderson, Inst. Geo. Sci. London).
Top of rim is smooth and partially polished; rim and lug delineated by
compass-drawing marks; rim formed inside and out with a fine chisel.
Exterior of base also worked with a fine chisel, leaving a 6mm high band
of herringbone pattern. The rest of the exterior has been worked, probably
with a pointed chisel, to give an accurately shaped, but not smooth,
surface. Interior has been only partially removed, probably using a
heavy-pointed chisel. Disturbed rubble, described (Sunter & Woodward p.16)
under Period 6 (after 225AD;
p.16 suggests that artefacts in the rubble are not much later than 200AD).
Illus. p.36,
fig.24, no.5 and
p.37,
plates 12 and 13 (note: the captions are interchanged).
- desc JP: plate 12 shows it inverted, looking rather like a quarter of a
steamed pudding.
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 296mm, B 254, C 216, D 128, H 106
Explanation
- loc DCM.
On display, 2000 Oct,
case 37
- subst Thomas: PM
- date not later than c.225AD
- comment See comment to
Norden PM mortar no.1.
The present item (no.5) is curved-sided and may be before 150AD in
accordance with Dunning's hypothesis,
but may be up to 75 years later.
-
- name Norden Burr Mortar no.1
- site Norden, Corfe Castle, 1968-9
- grid SY 957 827
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.38-39
and microfiche 7
- desc Rim, base and one lug of unfinished mortar, of tufaceous limestone,
or Purbeck Burr Stone, approximating to the shape of a boat; half remains,
including the unfinished lug. Interior probably finished, but now pitted.
Exterior shows tool-marks and is clearly unfinished; base is very rough and
unworked. Period 5 (building, estimated life 150-180AD, robbed 200-225),
rubble layers 1.55 and 1.81.
Illus. p.38,
fig.25, no.1.
- desc marked NO88/1 and 42 in triangle
- desc Boat-shape is unusual; pouring lip is at end of `boat', not over
the top of one lug as is usual.
- desc Measured from published drawing: short axis A 260mm, long axis B 500 (if supposed symmetrical), short axis B 216, C 168, long D 384, short D 152, H 112, P 56, Q14
Explanation
- loc DCM; on display 2000 Oct,
case 37
- subst Thomas: PL (basal Purbeck burr, not DB220)
- date site period 5, probably 150-180AD, not after 225
- comment Thomas's use of the terms `tufaceous limestone' and `Purbeck Burr
Stone' synonymously is confusing, since commonly the latter means the
Broken Shell Limestone (DB220); see
the table of Purbeck strata.
She is clear however that no Broken Shell Limestone was found at this
site and that the basal Purbeck Burr is meant (p.39).
JP notes some voids in the surface of the outside, which are however much
fewer than those in the tufaceous burr displayed on the main staircase at DCM,
but can also see small areas of the outside that show fine broken shell
fragments with small-scale current-bedding.
John Beavis remarked
to JP that it did look like BSL. More geological opinions needed.
-
- name Norden Burr Mortar no.2
- site Norden, Corfe Castle, 1968-9
- grid SY 957 827
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.38-9
and microfiche 7
- desc Unfinished mortar of tufaceous limestone, or Purbeck Burr Stone.
About half remains. Interior hollowed out, now rather pitted but originally
smooth. Signs of tooling around the outside of the rim; rest of exterior
with no particular signs of having been worked.
- desc p.39: essetially an irregular lump of stone into which a circular
depression, presumably the inside surface of a mortar, had been formed.
Traces of the beginnings of tooling around the outside of rim
can just be recognised.
Illus. p.38,
fig.25, no.2.
- desc Measured from published drawing: fragmentary, no useful measurements
- loc DCM
- subst Thomas: PL (basal Purbeck burr)
- date unstratified
- comment compare this irregular lump with one of the
Worgret PM mortars
- comment see comment to
Norden Burr Mortar no.1
-
- name Norden Burr Mortar no.3
- site Norden, Corfe Castle, 1968-9
- grid SY 957 827
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.38-9
and microfiche 7
- desc Four fragments comprising rim, base and one lug of a shallow mortar
with curved sides of tufaceous limestone, or Purbeck Burr Stone. Surface
is eroded, but otherwise appears finished. In disturbed rubble, period
6 (after 225AD).
Illus. p.38,
fig.25, no.3.
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 226mm, B 196, C 156, D 124, H 56, I 40, K 24, L 24, P 40, Q 20
Explanation
- loc DCM
- subst Thomas: PL (basal Purbeck burr)
- date 3rd cent. or earlier
- comment see comment to
Norden Burr Mortar no.1
-
- name Norden Limestone Mortar
- site Norden, Corfe Castle, 1968-9
- grid SY 957 827
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.38-9
and microfiche 7
- desc Fragment of base and rim of morter with almost vertical sides;
one triangular lug; in soft, fine-grained limestone.
Illus. p.38,
fig.25, no.5. Unstratified.
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 286mm, B 256, C 208, D 224, H 72, I 60, K 32, L 32, P 46, Q 38
Explanation
- loc DCM
- subst Limestone, probably Purbeck
- date unstratified
Dorset (excl. Purbeck and Cranborne Chase)-
- name Puncknowle mortar no.5
- site Walls, Puncknowle, 1965-1969
- grid SY 5399 8730
- source Bailey CJ 1986
- desc Fragment of handled mortarium of Purbeck limestone;
Bailey compares it to the Woodcuts mortar,
plate 50 no.1 of Pitt-Rivers 1887
- desc Drawing
- desc Measured from drawing (1/4 size): B 170, C 158, D 140, H 44, I 34, K 20, L 20, P 22, Q 28
Explanation
- loc probably DCM
- subst Bailey: PL (? Burr implied ?)
- comment see also roof slab from
same site
-
- name Puncknowle mortar no.6
- cat DOUBTFUL
- site Walls, Puncknowle, 1965-1969
- grid SY 5399 8730
- source Bailey CJ 1986
- desc Fragment of mortarium, no handles, limestone, source uncertain
- desc Drawing
- desc Measured from drawing (1/4 size): B 232, C 200, D 176, H 88, I 72, K 34, L 34
Explanation
- loc probably DCM
- subst Bailey: unidentified limestone
- comment see also roof slab from
same site
-
- name Puncknowle mortar no.7
- site Walls, Puncknowle, 1965-1969
- grid SY 5399 8730
- source Bailey CJ 1986
- desc Fragment of handled mortarium of Purbeck limestone
- desc Drawing
- desc Measured from drawing (1/4 size): B 192, C 176, D 140, H 56, I 38, K 28, L 28, P 32, Q 32
Explanation
- loc probably DCM
- subst Bailey: PL
- comment see also roof slab from
same site
-
- name Maiden Castle PM Mortar
- site Maiden Castle
- grid SY 67 88
- source Beavis
- publ Wheeler REM 1943,
p.251 and fig.80 no.58
- desc Wheeler:
one of two stone mortars from site L, having 4 lugs of
which one survives, the lug has a runnel on the top.
(The other is not PM.)
- desc Beavis: mortarium with pouring groove
like DCM 1912-28-1
- desc Measured from
published drawing no.58:
A 160mm, B 144, C 128, D 112, H 40, I 32, K 16, L 16, P 16, Q 20, R 4
(yes, 4mm)
Explanation
- loc DCM, if with other Maiden Castle finds
- subst Wheeler: PM (Paludina limestone)
- date later C4 context
-
- name Maiden Castle PL Mortar
- site Maiden Castle
- grid SY 67 88
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.39
- publ Wheeler REM 1943,
p.251 and fig.80 no.57
- desc Thomas: PL mortarium
- desc Wheeler: one of two stone mortars from site L,
of tufaceous limestone probably from the Purbeck beds
(the other is
fragmentary, of PM)
- desc Measured from
published drawing no.57:
A 204mm, B 174, C 168, D 140, H 48, I 36, K 24, L 24, P 44, Q 20
Explanation
- loc DCM: on display 2000 Oct, described as of `limestone';
apparently no longer on display 2001 May
- subst Wheeler: tufaceous limestone, probably PL
(JP: clearly not Broken Shell Limestone)
- date later C4 context
-
- name Dorchester 1886 Mortar
- site High Street, Dorchester
- grid SY 69 90
- source Beavis
p.188-189 incl. pl.1 and 2, and p.199
- desc PM mortarium.
Photo by JP, 2005-08.14 (right).
Smooth interior (worn by grinding?) Outside tooled.
Fine tooling on 1cm wide band at top and bottom, coarse tooling between.
Four lugs when complete, with sharp triangular section. Vestigial
pouring groove. B 160mm, H 50mm (by eye)
- desc Plates 1 and 2 (Beavis) show exterior and interior horizontal
views. From plate,
about 5/8 of circumference and only 2 lugs survive
- desc Also shown in a 3.25in sq. lantern slide, Dorset County Museum
collection no.129/59, probably the property of the late J Bernard Calkin;
this slide shows top view of the mortar,
and a pestle
- desc Estimated by eye: A 180mm, B 160, C 140, D 140, I 45, K 20, P 25, Q 20, R 10 (groove very shallow and irregular).
- loc DCM 1886-9-189; on display 2004 Mar.
- subst Beavis: PM
-
- name Dorchester 1912 Mortar
- site Dorchester c.1912
- grid SY 69 90
- source Beavis p.199
- desc Beavis: PM mortarium, similar to
DCM 1886-9-189 but more worn;
has pouring groove on one of the remaining lugs. There is
a similar one
from Maiden Castle.
- desc DCM catalogue: a mortar (fragment) of Purbeck stone.
Original diameter 6 1/2 in. Two projections remain. Groove for pouring.
Found in Dorchester. Donated by Mr CS Prideaux
- desc Photo by JP, 2005-08:14 (left). Marked `Mr C S Prideaux'
- desc Estimated by eye: A 190mm, B 165, C 145, D 140, H 70, I 60, L 22, P 25, Q 20, R 7
- loc DCM 1912-28-1; on display 2004 Mar.
- subst PM ?
-
- name Greyhound Yard PM and PL Mortars
- cat review
- site Dorchester, Greyhound Yard 1981-4
- source Dee Williams, Lampeter
- publ Woodward PJ, Davies SM, Graham AH
1993 p.145-6 and
fig.81,
fig.82
- desc
Woodward, Davies and Graham 1993 p.145-6:
"Mortars.
A total of 21 fragments of stone mortar were recorded,
representing 14 different vessels.
9 were made of PM,
1 from a dolomitic rock, and
4 from Purbeck or Portland limestones.
With two exceptions (Fig.81 no.10, Fig.82 no.21)
the mortars were of common RB types (Beavis 1970).
Mortar 10 from Period 7 (late C2), made of non-local dolomitic rock,
was unusually large and straight-sided (Fig.81 no.10).
As far as the writer is aware this type has not been found elsewhere in RB
contexts and is closer in form to medieval examples from Southampton ...
Mortar 21 from Period 12 (medieval) (Fig.82 no.12) is a medieval type
with vertical ribs, being the only example within this group made from
a PM with a reddish tinge, and the only one with a polished exterior.
Mortars of this type have been found in medieval layers at Christchurch ...
and at Southampton ...
Of the other mortars and fragments, 9 were made of PM, 2 of arenaceous
limestone and one a microsparite. There was no difference in quality
between the limestone mortars and those of PM. However the base bands
were accentuated on the limestone and light coloured PM mortars and
simple triangular lugs occur only on these."
- loc presumably DCM
- subst As detailed below
- date As detailed below
- comment Although the above says 14 mortars were found, only 13 are
illustrated and detailed below
-
- name Greyhound Yard deep dolomitic mortar
- cat DOUBTFUL
- site Dorchester, Greyhound Yard 1981-4
- grid SY 693 906
- publ Woodward PJ, Davies SM, Graham AH
1993 p.145-6 and
fig.81 no.10
- desc
"Mortar 10 from Period 7, made of non-local dolomitic rock,
was unusually large and straight-sided (Fig.81 no.10).
As far as the writer is aware this type has not been found elsewhere in RB
contexts and is closer in form to medieval examples from Southampton ..."
- loc presumably DCM
- subst Excavators: Dolomitic, suggested to be from Kimmeridge Clay
- date Site period 7, late C2, but style medieval
-
-
- name Greyhound Yard PM Mortar 12
- site Dorchester, Greyhound Yard 1981-4
- grid SY 693 906
- publ Woodward PJ, Davies SM, Graham AH
1993 p.145-6 and
fig.81 no.12
- desc
fig.81 no.12:
Context 3114,3141 strat-unit 43/06/02 small-find 2081,2313 catalogue-no. 21
- desc Measured from published drawings: A 250mm, B 217, C 171, I 44, K 17, P 29, Q 29
Explanation
- loc presumably DCM
- subst Excavators: PM
- date Site period 6, C1/C2
-
- name Greyhound Yard Mortar 13
- site Dorchester, Greyhound Yard 1981-4
- grid SY 693 906
- publ Woodward PJ, Davies SM, Graham AH
1993 p.145-6 and
fig.81 no.13
- desc
fig.81 no.13: Oosparite, possibly PL or PS,
context 1296 strat-unit 44/15/03 small-find 1878 catalogue-no. 22
- desc
Measured from published drawings: A 242mm, B 208, C 171, D 175, H 65, I 54, K 29, L 29, P 38, Q 38
Explanation
- loc presumably DCM
- subst Excavators: oosparite, possibly PL
- date Site period 10, late C4
-
- name Greyhound Yard PM Mortar 14
- site Dorchester, Greyhound Yard 1981-4
- grid SY 693 906
- publ Woodward PJ, Davies SM, Graham AH
1993 p.145-6 and
fig.81 no.14
- desc
fig.81 no.14:
Context 4727 strat-unit 45/04/02 small-find 1693 catalogue-no. 23
- desc
Measured from published drawings: A 329mm, B 275, C 225, D 229, E 196, H 75, I 50, J 46, K 38, L 38, P 50, Q 42
Explanation
- loc presumably DCM
- subst Excavators: PM
- date Site period 8, C3
-
- name Greyhound Yard PM Mortar 15
- site Dorchester, Greyhound Yard 1981-4
- grid SY 693 906
- publ Woodward PJ, Davies SM, Graham AH
1993 p.145-6 and
fig.82 no.15
- desc
fig.82 no.15:
Context 2116 strat-unit 45/05/01 small-find 2013,2017 catalogue-no. 24)
Measured from published drawings: B 254mm, C 217, D 183, E 192, H 58, I 46, J 33, K 21, L 21, P 58, Q 29
Explanation
- loc presumably DCM
- subst Excavators: PM
- date Site period 9, early C4
-
- name Greyhound Yard PM Mortar 16
- site Dorchester, Greyhound Yard 1981-4
- grid SY 693 906
- publ Woodward PJ, Davies SM, Graham AH
1993 p.145-6 and
fig.82 no. 16
- desc
fig.82 no. 16: PM mortar with hole in bottom filled with lead.
Context 2894 strat-unit 45/11/10 small-find 1398 catalogue-no. 25
- desc
Measured from published drawings: A 254mm, B 217, C 192, D 142, H 54, I 46, K 25, L 25, P 33, Q 33, R 8
Explanation
- loc presumably DCM
- subst Excavators: PM
- date Site period 9, early C4
-
-
- name Greyhound Yard Mortar 18
- site Dorchester, Greyhound Yard 1981-4
- grid SY 693 906
- publ Woodward PJ, Davies SM, Graham AH
1993 p.145-6 and
fig.82 no.18
- desc
fig.82 no.18:
Context 5028 strat-unit 51/02/04 small-find 1781 catalogue-no. 27
- desc
Measured from published drawings: A 254mm, B 229, C 200, D 171, H 75, I 56, K 33, L 33, P 42, Q 33
Explanation
- loc presumably DCM
- subst Excavators: microsparite, possibly PL
- date Site period 11, late Roman/early medieval
-
- name Greyhound Yard PM Mortar 19
- site Dorchester, Greyhound Yard 1981-4
- grid SY 693 906
- publ Woodward PJ, Davies SM, Graham AH
1993 p.145-6 and
fig.82 no.19
- desc
fig.82 no.19:
Context 5375 strat-unit 51/02/06 small-find 2127 catalogue-no. 28
- desc
Measured from published drawings: A 333mm, B 267, C 233, D 221, H 88, I 71, K 38, L 38, P 50?, Q 46
Explanation
- loc presumably DCM
- subst Excavators: PM
- date Site period 11, late Roman/early medieval
-
-
-
-
- name Wessex Court tripod mortar
- site Dorchester, Wessex Court (Charles St), 1989
- grid SY 6935 9045
- source Davies et al. 2002 p.85 mention a tripod mortar from Wessex Court, in relation to a similar object from Alington Avenue
- publ DCM 1996.31.34.1, box 591, file 1: Adam et al.,
draft report on 1989 excavation;
DCM 1996.31.34.2, box 600, file 16: object records [OR] by context [layer];
DCM 1996.31.34.2, box 601, File 18: Primary finds records: stone;
DCM 1996.31.34.2, box 605, file 23: A list of mortar fragments,
and a table of portable objects by phase [stratification-unit].
- desc Tripod mortar of Purbeck limestone, apparently unpublished,
but referred to in a published article.
- loc DCM acc. 1996.31 (finds: bays 145-149, papers: boxes 591-611, 615)
- subst PL
- comment This mortar is not mentioned in either of the reports in PDNHAS
of the Wessex Court excavation, neither
Davies and Farwell 1989 nor
Adam 1990.
-
- name Wessex Court PM mortar, context 2382
- site Dorchester, Wessex Court (Charles St), 1989
- grid SY 6935 9045
- source DCM 1996.31.34.2, box 601, file 18
- desc Fragmentary mortar, unpublished
- loc DCM acc. 1996.31 (finds: bays 145-149, papers: boxes 591-611, 615)
- subst PM
-
- name Wessex Court PM mortar 4770
- site Dorchester, Wessex Court (Charles St), 1989
- grid SY 6935 9045
- source DCM 1996.31.34.2, box 605, file 23
- desc Rim fragment, unpublished
- loc DCM acc. 1996.31 (finds: bays 145-149, papers: boxes 591-611, 615)
- subst PM
-
- name Wessex Court PM mortar 4811
- site Dorchester, Wessex Court (Charles St), 1989
- grid SY 6935 9045
- source DCM 1996.31.34.2, box 605, file 23
- desc Rim fragment, unpublished
- loc DCM acc. 1996.31 (finds: bays 145-149, papers: boxes 591-611, 615)
- subst PM
-
- name Wessex Court PM mortar 4948
- site Dorchester, Wessex Court (Charles St), 1989
- grid SY 6935 9045
- source DCM 1996.31.34.2, box 605, file 23
- desc Base fragment, unpublished
- loc DCM acc. 1996.31 (finds: bays 145-149, papers: boxes 591-611, 615)
- subst PM
-
- name Wessex Court PL mortar 4950
- site Dorchester, Wessex Court (Charles St), 1989
- grid SY 6935 9045
- source DCM 1996.31.34.2, box 605, file 23
- desc Rim fragment, unpublished
- loc DCM acc. 1996.31 (finds: bays 145-149, papers: boxes 591-611, 615)
- subst PL
-
- name Wessex Court PL mortar 5361
- site Dorchester, Wessex Court (Charles St), 1989
- grid SY 6935 9045
- source DCM 1996.31.34.2, box 601, file 18
- desc Rim fragment, unpublished
- loc DCM acc. 1996.31 (finds: bays 145-149, papers: boxes 591-611, 615)
- subst PL
-
- name Alington Avenue PM mortar no.1
- site Dorchester, Alington Avenue, c.1985
- grid SY 704 899
- source Davies et al. 2002 p.85--87
- desc Davies p.87: Mortar fragment, Roman, cat. no. 16; SF 1564; context 594, ditch 521.
- desc Dimensions, measured from
published drawings: A 220mm, B 192, C 168, P 32, Q 24.
Explanation
- desc Small finds record however says
"internal rim diameter (i.e. C) 18cm, 14% remaining; thickness 1-2cm".
SF record plus drawing indicates that one (rim) fragment survives.
SF record cites as a parallel SF 1616: this is
no.5, below.
- loc DCM 1991.89.54 (All Saints, bay 161, not yet seen). Paper archive 1991.89.55.1
- subst PM; so in small finds record, DCM 1991.89.55.1
- date Roman
-
- name Alington Avenue PM mortar no.5
- site Dorchester, Alington Avenue, c.1985
- grid SY 704 899
- source Davies et al. 2002 p.85--87
- desc Davies p.85:
One squat, flat-based
(Fig.39 no.5)
similar to one from Norden
(Sunter 1969 Fig.24),
[probably
no.3 in that Fig.
is meant].
- desc Davies p.87: Mortar fragment, Roman, cat. no. 24; SF 1616; context 2448,
building 1737.
- desc Dimensions, measured from
published drawings:
A 214mm, B 190, C 148, D 148, H 56, I 48, K 22, L 22, P 40, Q 26
Explanation
- desc Small finds record however says
"diam. of base (i.e. D) 16cm, 31% remains; diam. or rim (B or C?) 17cm, 6% remains". Drawing and SF record suggest two pieces survive, a rim and a base sherd.
SF record cites as a parallel SF 1564: this is
no.1, above.
- loc DCM 1991.89.54 (All Saints, bay 161, not yet seen). Paper archive 1991.89.55.1
- subst PM; so in small finds record, DCM 1991.89.55.1
- date Roman
-
- name Alington Avenue PM mortar unnumbered
- site Dorchester, Alington Avenue, c.1985
- grid SY 704 899
- source Davies et al. 2002 p.85--87
- desc A third PM mortar, not identified individually in the published
drawings.
- loc DCM 1991.89.54 (All Saints, bay 161, not yet seen). Paper archive 1991.89.55.1
- subst Davies et al: PM
-
- name Alington Avenue PL mortars (four)
- site Dorchester, Alington Avenue, c.1985
- grid SY 704 899
- source Davies et al. 2002 p.85--87
- desc Some remarks here also apply to the Alington PM mortars
1,
5,
X,
above.
- desc Geological identification by Paul Ensom.
[I have been unable to locate Ensom's report
in the excavation archive DCM 1991.89.55.1.
Unfortunately the article does not individually identify the material
of each of the mortars. However it appears from special-find records that
two of the PM mortars are
Fig.39 nos. 1 and 5.]
"Eighteen fragments of ten different stone mortars ...
4 of PL, 3 of PM, 2 of oolitic limestone, 2 of microsparite limestone"
[the numbers in the article do not add to 10 nor to 18!]
"One squat, flat-based
(Fig.39 no.5)
[PM mortar 5]
similar to one from Norden
(Sunter 1969 Fig.24)"
[probably no.3 in that Fig.].
"Tripod-footed mortar
(Fig.39 no.4)
is less common but
a similar one was
found at Wessex Court in an early Roman context
(Davies and Farwell 1989)"
[but this article does not actually describe the mortar in question].
Mortars recovered from residual contexts, [mostly] in infilling of bldg 1737,
a smaller number in filling of poss. mediaeval hollow 752.
- desc Dimensions of mortars, measured from
published drawings:
Explanation
no. 1 see PM mortar 1
no.2: A 288mm, B 248, C 212, P 36, Q 28, R 10
no.3: A 360mm, B 304, C 280, D 216, H 80, I 68, K 28, L 20, P 92, Q 48, R 32
(big lug and runnel!)
no.4 (tripod): A 340mm, B 268, C 252, H 112, H with legs 164, I 92, K 30, P 60, Q 46, R 28
no. 5 see PM mortar 5
- loc DCM
- subst Davies et al: PL
- comment Possible pestle (Fig.39 no.6) material not stated
-
- name Poundbury PL Mortars
- cat review
- site Poundbury, Dorset
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.39
- publ Green CS 1987,
report on The Stone Objects by Davies S, p.103-8
- desc Thomas: PL mortarium
- desc Davies in Green:
Two PL mortars (Fig.75, nos.18, 21) from early Roman period;
4 PL mortars (Fig.75, nos.19, 20) from late Roman period,
(Implied there were two others not illustrated.) Details
below.
- loc Thomas: DCM
- subst PL
-
-
-
-
-
- name Poundbury PL Mortar A
- site Poundbury, Dorset
- grid SY 68 91
- publ Green CS 1987,
report on The Stone Objects by Davies S, p.103-8
- desc Not illustrated
- loc Thomas: DCM
- subst PL
- date Davies: late Roman
-
- name Poundbury PL Mortar B
- site Poundbury, Dorset
- grid SY 68 91
- publ Green CS 1987,
report on The Stone Objects by Davies S, p.103-8
- desc Not illustrated
- loc Thomas: DCM
- subst PL
- date Davies: late Roman
-
- name Fordington Bottom mortar
- site A37 western link road site, W of Dorchester, 1986--8
- grid SY 666 910 approx.
- source Cool H 2005 p.55
- publ Smith RJC et al. 1997 p.249
- desc Objects of worked stone (from A37 Western Link Road)
by Rachael Seager Smith. Base fragment of mortar of "common R-B type",
catalogue no. 9, Purbeck limestone.
- loc Dorset County Museum (Smith p.13). Cat no. 9
- subst Seager Smith: PL
- date Roman
-
-
- name Oakley Down Mortar
- site Oakley Down, Wimborne St Giles, Dorset,
Trench II above pit 6
- grid SU 03 12
- publ
Brown, Corney and Woodward 1995
- desc Base frag of mortar, Purbeck limestone
- subst PL
- date Doubtfully Roman: most material in context was Iron Age
-
- name Milbourne Mortar
- site IA/RB settlement at Milbourne St Andrew, Dorset
(midway between Dorchester and Blandford)
- grid SY 80 97
- source Beavis p.199
- publ Drew CD 1930,
pl.8 no.9
- desc mortarium, may be burr-stone. Lugs as drawn by Drew
unusually rounded for a PM mortarium which is not very worn; rounded
lugs are more common on stone mortaria (Beavis). The top of the lugs
is rounded down instead of being flat.
- desc Measured from published drawing:
A 210mm, B 180, C 144, D 105, H 63, I 39, K 30, L 30, P 45, Q 27
Explanation
- subst Drew: PM; Beavis: may be Burr (apparently from its
style, not from inspecting the stone itself)
- date Iron Age/Romano-British site
-
- name Mansell-Pleydell's Well Mortar
- site Winterbourne Kingston, infill of RB well
- grid SY 86 97
- source Beavis p.203
- publ Mansell-Pleydell JC 1890, Winterbourne Kingston
Roman Well, PDNHAS 11 1-6 esp. p.2
- desc ``in the well .. was a portion of a shallow mortar of PM
6 5/8in diam 1 1/2in deep, with projections at the side; there would have
been 4 .. the part recovered has 2 only''
- desc Beavis(?): ``Shallow vase of PM''
- subst Mansell-Pleydell: Purbeck marble (PM)
-
- name Southwell Mortar
- site Southwell (Portland), St Andrew's Church ?1885?
- grid SY 68 70
- source Beavis p.200-1,
who identifies the `mortar from Southwell' with DCM 0-230-1 `probably'.
- publ Farrar RAH 1963 p.101
- desc Farrar: Roman mortar of Purbeck burr-stone with 3
[equally-spaced: JP] lug handles, probably found May 1885, judging by an old
museum label.
- desc Photo by JP, 2005-08.13.
Has a hole worn in the bottom, otherwise complete;
rim is complete all round; no pouring grooves
- desc Estimated by eye: A 180mm, B 160, C 150, D 140, H 45, I 45 (base worn through), P 23, Q 23
- loc DCM; Southwell mortar on display 2000 Oct., about case 39;
DCM number is not visible in the display so not able yet to
confirm Beavis' identification
- subst Beavis: burr-stone (DCM 0-230-1);
Farrar: burr-stone (Southwell mortar); PL
- comment do not confuse with the
lower part of a PL mortar
from Worgret which also is worn through the base
-
-
- name Halstock Mortar 1
- site Halstock villa, Dorset 1967-1985
- grid ST 53 07
- publ Lucas RN 1993 p.95
- desc ``The stone mortars .. Figure 27. 1. Described by John Beavis. Frag
of rim and lug of mortar. Similar to mortars from Dorchester
(1,
2)
and Norden
(1,
2)
in shape and lug form. About 1/8 of rim present with one handle.
17C layer 1, topsoil above roadway W of buildings 1 and 2.
Just smaller than the larger [of the two groupings] 21cm by 7-8cm and
17cm by 5cm''.
- desc Measured from published drawing fig.27:
A 360mm, B 164, C 140, D 268, H 104, K 52, L 52, P 50, Q 36
Explanation
- subst Beavis: bioclastic and pellet limestone, ?some ooliths.
Probably from Portland Beds (PS)
- comment Cool 2005 p.55 reckons this
as Purbeck
-
- name Halstock Mortar no.2
- site Halstock villa, Dorset 1967-1985
- grid ST 53 07
- publ Lucas RN 1993 p.95
- desc
Base of a mortar, similar to No.17(?) (15I layer 2, Overburden, building 2).
- desc Measured from published drawing fig.27:
D 144mm, K 36, L 36
Explanation
- subst apparently like no. 1
- comment Cool 2005 p.55 reckons this one
as Purbeck
-
- name Halstock Mortar no.3
- site Halstock villa, Dorset 1967-1985
- grid ST 53 07
- publ Lucas RN 1993 p.95
- desc
Mortar similar to No.1, probably with
four handles (27C layer 3, Overburden, NW Courtyard).
- desc Measured from published drawing fig.27:
A 248mm, B 220, C 200, D 180, H 62, I 52, K 32, L 32, P 36, Q 24
Explanation
- subst apparently like no. 1
- comment Cool 2005 p.55 reckons this one
as Purbeck
-
- name Tarrant Hinton mortar 10
- site Tarrant Hinton
- grid ST 927 119
- source Graham A 2006 p.138 and
fig.55 no.10
- desc Fragment of mortar of oolitic limestone with glauconite and sand grains,
possibly of Purbeck origin. Tooled rim and triangular lugs. Period 5
(4th cent.), debris Building 1, SF [small find] 915.
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 360mm, B 330, C 300, D 252, H 96, I 72, K 36, L 36, P 48, Q 36
- subst uncertain
- comment see also
roofing,
tesserae,
architectural stone,
structural stone,
inscription,
from this site
-
- name Tarrant Hinton mortar 11
- site Tarrant Hinton
- grid ST 927 119
- source Graham A 2006 p.138 and
fig.55 no.11
- desc Fragment of mortar of limestone ... very close to PM (Viviparus
biomicrite). Tooled exterior and trapezoidal lugs. Probably burnt.
Period 4 (2nd to 3rd cent.), debris Building 11, SF 916.
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 372mm, B 324, C 288, D 276, H 96, I 78, K 33, L 33, P 66, Q 36
- subst PM
- comment see also
roofing,
tesserae,
architectural stone,
structural stone,
inscription,
from this site
-
- name Tarrant Hinton mortar 13
- site Tarrant Hinton
- grid ST 927 119
- source Graham A 2006 p.138 and
fig.55 no.13
- desc Fragment of mortar of coarse shelly limestone. Purbeck Limestone
formation (M-V Purbeck Beds). Tooled exterior and squarish lugs. Period
5 (4th cent.), debris Building 11, SF 918.
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 300mm, B 276, C 252, D 234, H 60, I 48, K 24, L 24, P 33, Q 36
- subst PL
- comment see also
roofing,
tesserae,
architectural stone,
structural stone,
inscription,
from this site
-
- name Tarrant Hinton mortar 14
- site Tarrant Hinton
- grid ST 927 119
- source Graham A 2006 p.138 and
fig.55 no.14
- desc Fragment of mortar with lug, of fossiliferous limestone probably from
Upper Purbeck Limestone Beds.
Period 5 (4th cent.), upper fill of Well, 655.
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 200mm (est.), B 180 (est.), C 156 (est.), P 27, Q 30
- subst PL
- comment see also
roofing,
tesserae,
architectural stone,
structural stone,
inscription,
from this site
-
-
- name Sutton Poyntz mortar
- cat DOUBTFUL
- site Sutton Poyntz, 2005
- grid SY 705 838 or vicinity
- desc Stone mortar from Roman site ?
- subst Unknown
- comment Awaiting fuller report
- cont Rachel Caistor
Cranborne Chase-
- name Woodcuts Well Mortar
- site Woodcuts, 1884
- grid ST 963 181
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.39
- publ Pitt-Rivers A 1887,
Excavations in Cranborne Chase I p.143 and
pl.50 no.1,
also in list p.179, no.19 or 20
- desc ``Two views and section of portion of mortar of shelly
limestone from the upper Purbecks, resembling the stone known at Swanage
as `Burrstone', and formerly used as a building material; diam. about 9in;
having projections at the side, and a groove along the surface of one of
the projections. Found in the small Roman well, which contained
three fragments.'' [ JP's emphasis; from the plate it can be seen
that 2 lugs are present, one with pouring groove. ]
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 280mm, B 240, C 200, H 72, I 52, K 36, L 36, P 48 (grooved), P 40 (ungrooved), Q 26, R 14
Explanation
- loc Salisbury Museum, Woodcuts display, middle-sized one of 3
mortar fragments has 2 lugs, one with pouring groove, and is marked
`from Well': diam c.25cm when complete. Large mortar is the
Pit mortar.
Smallest of the 3
(200mm x 60mm when complete, 1 lug, tooled outside)
is discussed under Woodcuts Pit Mortar.
- subst HB Woodward, Museum of Practical Geology, London,
in Pitt-Rivers 1887 p.179,
no.19 or 20: ``shelly limestone from the upper Purbecks,
resembling the stone known at Swanage as `Burrstone',
and formerly used as a building material''; PL
- comment May be from
Vale of Wardour Purbeck beds,
which are close
-
- name Woodcuts Pit Mortar
- site Woodcuts
- grid ST 963 181
- source Dunning's map
- publ Pitt-Rivers 1887 p.143 and
pl.50 no.2
- desc ``Two views of a portion of a mortar of shelly limestone
from the upper Purbecks, resembling ... Swanage ... `Burrstone' ...
diam 1ft 3in. Found in Pit 29 (the Roman excavation) in the central
quarter.'' [ From the Plate, about 1/5 of the circumference remains,
including one non-pouring lug. ]
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 432mm?, B 376?, C 312?, H 88, I 64, K 40, L 36, P 60, Q 40
Explanation
- loc Salisbury Museum, largest (in original diam) of 3 mortars
in Woodcuts display matches the description. Middle-sized mortar is the
Well mortar.
Smallest of the 3
(200mm x 60mm when complete, 1 lug left, tooled outside)
could be one of the 3 fragments mentioned by Pitt-Rivers, but as it is
a substantial portion of the whole mortar, that would be surprising.
It is not PM and may not be PL.
- subst HB Woodward, Museum of Practical Geology, London,
in Pitt-Rivers 1887 p.179, no. 19
or 20: ``shelly
limestone from the upper Purbecks, resembling the stone known at Swanage
as `Burrstone', and formerly used as a building material''; PL
- comment Dunning's map listed
a PM mortar from this site, but
Pitt-Rivers mentions no
PM mortar, and only this one and
three
fragments (one only described in detail) as PL mortaria
- comment May be from
Vale of Wardour Purbeck beds,
which are close
-
- name Rotherley Mortar
- site Rotherley
- grid ST 94 19
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.39
- publ Pitt-Rivers A 1888,
Excavations in Cranborne Chase II
p.180 and
pl.120 fig.6
- desc PL mortarium
- desc ``Fragment of a small mortar or bowl of shelly limestone,
from the Upper Purbecks, resembling ... Swanage ... Burrstone.
Found in the filling [PR's emphasis] of the Square Hut Foundation.
A mortar of similar material
was found at Woodcuts ...
[in fact another was also found there, JP]
3 frags with projecting ledges, similar to those represented in
Vol I Plate 50, were found at Rotherley.''
- desc Measured from published drawing: B 200mm?, H 60, K 20, L 20
Explanation
- loc Salisbury Museum ns
- subst PL
- comment From the figure, would seem to have been about 8in diam.
- comment Probably identical with the
``PM'' mortar
listed in Dunning's map,
since Pitt-Rivers mentions no PM mortar from Rotherley in his publications
-
- name Woodyates PL Mortar
- site Woodyates
- grid SU 03 19
- source Thomas C in
Sunter and Woodward 1987 p.39
- publ Pitt-Rivers A 1892,
Excavations in Cranborne Chase III p.150 and
pl.187 no.18
- desc PL mortarium
- desc ``Portion of a stone mortarium. Found in surface trenching
near the Roman Road. Similar vessels ... ''
[ 1,
2,
3; ]
[ 3 is cited here as Vol 2 Plate 120 no.4, when in fact no.6 illustrates
the PL mortarium; no.4 is a grit-stone quern ]
From the Figure, about 3/8 of the circumference remains, with 1 lug with
pouring groove.
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 348mm?, B 300?, C 252?, L 20, P 58, Q 42, R 8 (inner end), R 30 (outer).
Explanation
- subst Not clearly stated to be PL, except by the comparison
with the `similar vessels'; the mis-citation of the third similar vessel
may (just possibly) indicate that the material of the present item was not PL
but gritstone
- comment Salisbury Museum ns
-
- name Buzbury Rings mortar
- cat DOUBTFUL
- site Buzbury Rings, Tarrant Keynston, c.1966
- grid ST 9185 0592
- source Farrar 1966 p.121
- desc Part of a mortar of "shelly limestone", resembling Maiden Castle
PM and
PL mortars,
found in the N part of the inner enclosure by C. G. Rudd
- loc Unknown
- subst probably PL
- date uncertain
South-west peninsula-
- name Exeter Mortar
- site Exeter
- grid SX 92 92
- source Cool H 2005
- publ - Holbrook and Bidwell 1991 p.278 no.2
- desc Original publication not yet seen.
Cool: Purbeck marble mortar, AD 75-85 context.
Also several other "Purbeck" mortars, Holbrook and Bidwell p.278-9 no.3-6.
Cf. the the Exeter labrum
- subst Cool: PM
- date AD 75--85 context
Hampshire-
- name Rockbourne Mortar
- site Rockbourne Villa, Hants
- grid SU 12 17
- source Beavis p.200, who
suggests from the style that it may be later than Roman
- desc
Large mortarium of PM with spout continuous with a groove all around the rim.
Handle is a loop away from the body. Unusually deep. Not polished,
tooling marks visible. May be Saxon. Contrast the
other dish from ? this site
- loc displayed on site
- subst Beavis: PM
- date Roman site, but Beavis: from style may be Saxon
-
-
- name Clausentum Mortar
- site Bitterne (Clausentum), c.1990
- grid SU 43 13
- source Southampton Museum
of Archaeology database 2003-01-20
- desc Base of a Purbeck Marble Mortar. 2 lugs, one on either side.
55mm high 266mm diameter.
- desc The presence of lugs suggests that not only the base survives,
so measurements may be B 266mm?, H 55?
- loc Southampton Museum of Archaeology, Winkle Street, A.1993.40.34
- subst Soton Mus: PM
- date Soton Mus: Roman
-
Isle of Wight-
- name Brading Mortar
- site Brading, IW
- grid SZ 60 86
- source Dunning's map
- publ
- Price FGH, Price JE 1881
- publ
Price JE, Price FGH 1884
- publ - VCH Hants 1 131-316
- publ - 1958 Bull Inst Archaeol (Lond) 1 55-74
DCM has 1968-present
- publ Tomalin DJ 1987 p.88
- publ - Sherwin GA 1926
- publ - Sydenham EA 1945
- desc Price 1884: Chamber 1: roofing slabs of Bembridge stone
with nails in situ. Chamber 3: mosaic of 2 gladiators. Chamber 6:
Orpheus pavement. p.55: no.62 Hone stone; no.64 Mortarium of PM;
no.65 Querns.
- desc Tomalin 1987:
Illus. G4.
Mortar, Purbeck marble. Diam. 16cm, height 5.6cm.
Dressed segmental pattern on base. From room 16 in
the aisled building in the Brading villa. BVC 1017.16.2
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 196mm, B 160, C 144, D 124, H 56, I 48, K 20, L 20, P 20, Q 20.
B and H agree with the values in Tomalin's text.
Explanation
- loc Brading Villa Collection 1017.16.2
- subst PM
-
- name Carisbrooke Mortar
- site Carisbrooke, IW
- grid SZ 48 88
- source Dunning's map
- publ Tomalin DJ 1987 p.88
- publ - Smith CR 1868
- publ - Sherwin GA 1926
- publ - Sydenham EA 1945
- desc mortarium mentioned by Dunning in
5th Richborough Report p.110-114
as having `a large lug with runnel' and otherwise like
the second mortar from Richborough
- desc Tomalin:
Illus. G5.
Stone mortar. Purbeck marble. Diam. 34cm. Possibly semicircular
like those found at Fishbourne palace
[ which are fixed basins, not mortars : JP ].
External face is
crudely dressed and suggests it is either unfinished or intended to be
countersunk into a mortar bed. From an unknown context at Carisbrooke
villa.
- desc Measured from published drawing: A-C 112mm?, B-C 50mm?, H 44?, I 24, J 16, P 60?, Q 36, R 24.
Explanation
True diameter hard to determine from the fragment.
This is an unusual shallow bowl with lug almost the same depth (Q)
as the body (H). Possibly should be in the Vessels section, except it
has a mortar-like pouring groove. Cf.
the second mortar from Richborough
- loc Dunning 1968: Carisbrooke Castle Museum; Tomalin: IWCAC 503.0.16
- subst Tomalin: Purbeck marble
- comment This item really belongs in the section of Vessels other than
mortars and is only here because it has been published as a "mortar"
Wiltshire-
-
- name Littlecote Mortar
- site Littlecote villa, near Ramsbury
- grid SU 29 70
- source Paul Robinson, Devizes Museum
- publ Walters B 1992; summary
of excavations, intent to publish in full in due course; no mention
of stone mortar
- publ - 1957, VCH Wilts I(i) 198
- desc Robinson: PM mortar
- desc Walters: occupation from Roman period to C18; ?much stone
roofing material including `cream or white shelly limestone'?
- loc Walters: donated to Devizes museum
- subst Robinson: PM
- comment Orpheus mosaic found 1727
- cont Bryn Walters, excavator (written to 2001 July 20)
Sussex-
- name Fishbourne Mortar
- site Fishbourne, Neronian builders' yard
- grid SU 84 05
- publ Cunliffe 1971 p.40,
fig.23 no.2
- desc Fragment of a mortar of PM. Builders' working yard.
- desc Measured from published drawing: B 180mm?, C 156?, H 48?, K 12?
Explanation
- subst PM
- date from context, presumably AD43-68
Kent-
-
- name Lullingstone Mortar
- site Lullingstone, Kent
- grid TQ 53 65
- source Dunning's map
- publ Meates GW 1987 p.59
- desc
Fig 22 no 48:
fragment of a mortar. Broken shell limestone from Purbeck.
From the destruction level of the baths.
- desc Measured from published drawing: D 230mm, K 34, L 34
Explanation
- subst PL; Broken Shell Limestone is probably
Clements DB220
- date Building abandoned in C3, reoccupied late C3.
Christian paintings of C4. Baths were pulled down after AD 385
(vol.1 p.96).
- comment See also
the rubber
and the pestle (not PL)
from this site
- comment Try Canterbury Museums
-
- name Richborough Mortar no.1
- site Richborough
- grid TR 32 60
- publ Dunning GC, The Stone Mortars, in
Cunliffe BW 1968, Fifth Richborough Report
p110-114
- desc
Fragment of curved side of mortar with polished surface.
Part of one lug remains. Stone fort ditch, middle layer. No.898
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 300mm, B 246, C 196, K 20
Explanation
- desc Drawings
- subst Dunning: PM
- comment 11 stone mortars in all, of which 2 are PM and
the rest neither PL nor Portland stone
- comment Try Canterbury Museums,
or maybe better Maidstone museum (see the location of the
architectural
fragments)
-
- name Richborough Mortar no.2
- site Richborough
- grid TR 32 60
- publ Dunning GC, The Stone Mortars, in
Cunliffe BW 1968, Fifth Richborough Report
p110-114
- desc Half of shallow mortar with polished surface,
underside of base roughly tooled.
On the rim are 2 curved ledge-handles and part of a large lug with runnel.
Chalk House, under opus signinum. No.891
- desc Measured from published drawing: A 292, B 252, C 212, D 188, K 30, L 26, P 60 (at wall), P 36 (at tip), Q 40 (at wall) Q 22 (at tip), R 16
Explanation
- desc Drawings
- desc Dunning:
`The only other mortar of this type appears to be from the villa at
Carisbrooke, IW
(Carisbrooke Castle Museum) which has a large lug with runnel.'
[ and is likely to be a fixed basin : JP ]
- subst Dunning: Grey PM
- comment 11 stone mortars in all, of which 2 are PM and
the rest neither PL nor Portland stone
- comment Try Canterbury Museums,
or maybe better Maidstone museum (see the location of the
architectural
fragments)
-
London-
-
-
-
- site London, 2-3 Cross Keys Court, Copthall Ave (MoLAS site OPT81)
- grid TQ 33 81
- source Champion JA 2000
- publ Champion J 2000 p.85, fig.12, pl.2
- desc Context 155; Mortar, frag with one handle of mortar 280mm diam [over lugs, see fig.]
- desc Measured from fig., A 280, B 252, C 220, D 190, H 52, I 42, K 20, L 20, Q 20
Explanation
- loc Museum of London acc 1344; seen by Champion 1999-08-17
- subst Champion: PM
-
- site London, 52-63 London Wall (MoLAS site LOW88)
- grid TQ 33 81
- source Champion JA 2000
- desc Context 2018; Mortar; frag including one lug with groove on top surface
- loc Museum of London acc 726
- subst Champion: PM
-
- site London, 129-191 Borough High St (MoLAS site 179BHS89)
- grid TQ 33 81
- source Champion JA 2000
- desc Context 302; Mortar; diam 194mm, height 56mm, outer surface partly pecked, partly chiselled, base and top surface of rim polished, inner surface polished.
- desc From given description: B 194mm, H 56
Explanation
- loc Museum of London acc 265
- subst Champion: PM
-
- name London Bishopsgate Mortar
- site London, 7-11 Bishopsgate (MoLAS site ETA89)
- grid TQ 33 81
- source Champion JA 2000
- publ Museum of London 1997 p.17; Champion J 2000 pl.1
- desc Context 662; Mortar; cracked but nearly complete, outside diam incl lugs 236mm, excluding lugs 203mm, wall thickness at top 17mm, height 60mm, diam of base 142mm;
- desc From given description: A 236mm, B 203mm, C 169, D 142, H 60, this is shallow.
Explanation
- loc Museum of London acc 407; seen by Champion 1999-08-24
- subst Champion: PM
- comment Same context as pestle acc 406
-
- name Leadenhall Court mortars
- site Leadenhall Court, London
- grid TQ 33 81
- source Cool H 2005 p.54
- publ - F. Pritchard in Milne and Wardle 1996 p.83-85
- desc Cool: Purbeck marble mortars, nos. 78, 47.
Original publication not yet seen;
it refers to evidence of grinding red pigment.
Total number of mortars unclear till original publication seen,
but it includes at least one other "Purbeck" mortar (p.83 no.77).
- subst Cool: PM
East Anglia-
- name Colchester Mortar
- site Colchester
- grid TL 99 25
- source Dunning's map
- desc Colchester Museums: A mortar in PM from a Roman grave,
no.213 in the unpublished inventory of graves compiled by MR Hull. It
was discovered on the Abbey Field at Colcheste and is described as deep,
with sloping sides and 4 lateral projections. Height 6.25in, mouth diam.
14.375in.
- desc From given description: C 365, H 159
Explanation
- loc Colchester Museums, COLEM 1926.5211.4
- subst Colchester Museums: PM
-
- name Colchester St John's Mortar
- site Colchester, St John's Abbey, 1920
- grid TL 99 25
- source Dr PR Sealey,
asst curator of archaeology, Colchester Museums Service, 2001 July
- desc A carved block of PM, reused as a mortar with 2 small lugs
(originally there were 4). Chance find at St John's Abbey 1920
- loc Colchester Museums, COLEM 1946.7
- subst Colchester Museums: PM
-
- name Colchester North Hill Mortar
- site Colchester, North Hill
- grid TL 99 25
- publ Dunnett BRK 1967 p.45
- desc Fragment of mortarium in PM, unstratified.
- loc Colchester Museum
- subst PM
- comment Wrote Colchester Museums 2001 July 6
-
- name Balkerne Lane Mortar
- site Colchester, Balkerne Lane, 1973-6
- grid TL 99 25
- source
Paul Sealey,
Colchester Museums Service, 2001 July
- publ Crummy NC 1983 p.76, fig.79, no.2084
- desc Purbeck marble mortar fragment.
From construction trench of cellar. Fragment of the rim with a plain lug.
Dished. Internal diam. at rim 148mm.
- desc From given description: C 148mm
Explanation
- loc Colchester Museums
- subst Crum
