The ceramics assemblage from the Cattewater Wreck may be used to support the thesis that the ship was an early Tudor Plymouth-based vessel operating as an international trading ship to southern Europe. The assemblage might also be used in several other ways. As well as being dating evidence, they also provide evidence for the vessels origin, organisation and operation, information relating to the galley and eating/drinking on board the ship. They might also provide an insight into the maritime trade networks of the ship and port both coastally, within England, and internationally. They can also provide an insight into site formation processes, both during wrecking process and later scour formation. A combination of Raeren and Siegburg stoneware sherds can be used to give a date for the wreck to the early Tudor period, ca.1480-1525, with all the other ceramics being consistent with this date. It is unlikely that finds of ceramics from further excavation will make this date range much smaller. Only one English ceramic sherd can be confidently identified in relation to the wreck and that is a fragment of Tudor Green Ware. Fragments of possible South Somerset Ware and North Devon Ware from cooking pots may also be identified as coming from the wreck. The ceramics from both these potteries were commonly found in Plymouth in this period. If confirmed, they provide more evidence for the vessel either being either based in Plymouth or having been victualed/supplied in Plymouth prior to wrecking (along with the identification of most ballast as having originated from Plymouth and isotope analysis of fish remains indicating that most of this was probably local as well). The largest numbers of ceramics associated with the wrecked vessel came from the Low Countries and the Rhine. The earthenware ceramics came from various pottery areas around the mouth of Rhine and the Raeren and Siegburg stonewares from further up the river. It should not be thought that this group necessarily indicates any direct connection between the ship, or even Plymouth, and that area. The extensive trading network these potteries had with London and elsewhere in England (as well as their redistribution, including to the South West), could easily account for their presence on board an English-based vessel. Rhenish stoneware, for instance, was found on the Mary Rose (wrecked in 1545). Several of the ceramics point to a southern European connection and it is a great shame that two sherds originally attributed to South West France are no longer in the Archive to check their origin, as they may have been of great help in looking at any international trading connections. A glazed red earthenware tile and two Spanish olive jar fragments (if from the wreck) may have formed part of a previous cargo. The presence of a possible North African fragment is intriguing, but the sherd is also not present in the Archive to reinterpret. The only certain attribution being non European. Plymouth had strong connections with South West France, especially with the Bordeaux wine trade, and acted as a redistribution centre for imported trade goods. There was also a strong connection with the Iberian peninsula with both exports from Plymouth (such as fish, wool, cloth and tin) and imports from Spain and Portugal (including pepper, olive oil, soap, dried exotic fruits and sherry). One of Plymouths wealthiest merchants in the 16th century, William Hawkins, is known to have traded extensively with this area, with agents in Lisbon & Seville. He expanded his trading connections on longer voyages to the Atlantic Islands, such as the Canaries, and using his 250 ton ship the Paul of Plymouth in the 1530s made at least three voyages to Brazil, becoming the first Englishman to trade with South America. Further information on the ceramics will be added to the Cattewater Wreck Group https://facebook/groups/353632848096131/
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 14:03:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015