Description
This richly illustrated book presents the first comprehensive study of the making and marketing of pottery in medieval Ireland. Focusing on a well-preserved 14th-century pottery production centre which was excavated in 2006 at Highhays, outside the walls of the renowned Anglo-Norman town of Kilkenny in south-east Ireland, the authors describe its kiln, workshops and working areas, as well as its 'Highhays Ware' products: jugs, jars, cooking-pots, money-boxes and ridge tiles.
Foremost amongst the outputs from the kiln site were high-quality, wheel-thrown, green-glazed jugs that were closely modelled on French Saintonge and Bristol Redcliffe archetypes and the volume describes the distinctive processes, kiln-firing technology and raw materials that were employed to produce these, and the other wares, represented on the site. The book also presents the results of an innovative plasma spectrometry and petrological analysis of Highhays Ware, which facilitated identification of the source for the raw potting clays areas - located at a considerable distance from Highhays in north county Kilkenny - used in its production, in addition to allowing for a study of the uncharacteristically broad distribution of the ware throughout the south-east of Ireland. The authors also place the production of pottery at Highhays in its broader context by presenting an overall review of the archaeological and historical evidence for pottery making and consumption in medieval Ireland, as well as by exploring the cultural background and social status of potters in the Anglo-Norman colony. Supporting the analysis and interpretation of the Highhays site and its assemblage are specialist and scientific contributions on the pottery, tiles, ceramic production material, metal finds, coins and archaeobotanical and animal bone remains from the site, archaeomagnetic and radiocarbon dating and plasma spectrometry and petrological analysis.
About the Author
Emma Devine was the co-director of excavations at Highhays and the managing director of Kilkenny Archaeology. She was also formerly the curator of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society museum and her main research interests were urban archaeology and community archaeology. Coilin O Drisceoil is an archaeologist with the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. He was formerly the managing director of Kilkenny Archaeology and was co-director, with his late wife Emma Devine, of excavations at Highhays.
Reviews
This book is well illustrated throughout and provides an informative overview of Medieval Kilkenny * Ulster Archaeological Society *
Book Information
ISBN 9781789258530
Author Emma Devine
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint Oxbow Books
Publisher Oxbow Books
Foremost amongst the outputs from the kiln site were high-quality, wheel-thrown, green-glazed jugs that were closely modelled on French Saintonge and Bristol Redcliffe archetypes and the volume describes the distinctive processes, kiln-firing technology and raw materials that were employed to produce these, and the other wares, represented on the site. The book also presents the results of an innovative plasma spectrometry and petrological analysis of Highhays Ware, which facilitated identification of the source for the raw potting clays areas - located at a considerable distance from Highhays in north county Kilkenny - used in its production, in addition to allowing for a study of the uncharacteristically broad distribution of the ware throughout the south-east of Ireland. The authors also place the production of pottery at Highhays in its broader context by presenting an overall review of the archaeological and historical evidence for pottery making and consumption in medieval Ireland, as well as by exploring the cultural background and social status of potters in the Anglo-Norman colony. Supporting the analysis and interpretation of the Highhays site and its assemblage are specialist and scientific contributions on the pottery, tiles, ceramic production material, metal finds, coins and archaeobotanical and animal bone remains from the site, archaeomagnetic and radiocarbon dating and plasma spectrometry and petrological analysis.
About the Author
Emma Devine was the co-director of excavations at Highhays and the managing director of Kilkenny Archaeology. She was also formerly the curator of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society museum and her main research interests were urban archaeology and community archaeology. Coilin O Drisceoil is an archaeologist with the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. He was formerly the managing director of Kilkenny Archaeology and was co-director, with his late wife Emma Devine, of excavations at Highhays.
Reviews
This book is well illustrated throughout and provides an informative overview of Medieval Kilkenny * Ulster Archaeological Society *
Book Information
ISBN 9781789258530
Author Emma Devine
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint Oxbow Books
Publisher Oxbow Books
