The pottery found on a site can give the archaeologist a very good idea of date. This is because earthenware and stoneware vessels which are used every day to prepare, eat and store food are liable to be broken and thrown away in a short period of time. A lot of research has been done on ceramic history and much is known about the dates of manufacture of different wares and how vessel forms changed through time.

Bartmann Jug, stoneware, early 17th century. Context: Pit 1 ca. 1607-1610.

Made in Frechen, Germany, vessels like this were produced and exported in great quantities to England to fulfill stoneware needs. England succeeded in establishing its own stoneware industry in the 1680s. The medallion bears the coat-of-arms of an individual from northern Italy.