About this objectA small shouldered and necked jar, said to have been excavated from a secondary burial in a burial mound at Pegsdon Heath (Beds) in 1892 by the local antiquary William Ransom. A male inhumation burial “in a slightly sitting posture” (presumably flexed at the knees or crouched) accompanied by an iron knife of sixth century type was also recovered, but it is not clear if this refers to the same burial. Nevertheless, the vessel is handmade and in a sandy fabric similar to fifth-century types from Baldock; although stylistically a late first century type, a sub-Roman date is possible on the basis of the fabric. However, Ransom also excavated a group of Romano-British burials nearby and it is possible that there has been some muddling of material. Bedfordshire Historic Environment Record entry.
This jar was found in 1892 buried with a Saxon warrior. The potter copied a 400-year-old Romano-British style and used Roman potting methods.
