Neolithic Bowl, Windmill Hill Style

Details
This is a replica of a Neolithic bowl in the "Windmill Hill" style, named for one of the first sites where it was recognised; the Causewayed Enclosure at Windmill Hill, about 1 mile north west of Avebury in Wiltshire.

Here in the 1920s Archaeological excavations revealed some of the earliest pots found in the British Isles. Pottery was first used in Britain at about the same time that farming was introduced from the continent. These pots represent a dramatic change to the way that food was prepared allowing people to heat liquids over an open fire for the first time.  Prior to this it is believed that they may have dropped heated stones into liquid in order to heat it.

Materials

Smoke fired Terracotta

Dimensions

Made to approximate size of original -  115 mm tall 185 mm diameter

Small bowl - 85 mm tall 160 mm diameter

Firing

It has been fired to emulate the ancient firing conditions. The original pot would have been fired in an open wood fire, in close contact with the fuel, a process that leaves its mark on the clay as variations in the surface colour. However the very low temperatures achieved in open firings, also results in pots that are relatively weak, so this pot has been fired to a somewhat higher temperature to strengthen it, in a special firing process that allows me to achieve an authentic appearance to the pot.

Production

Completely hand built, from clays similar in character to those used by the original potters, this vessel has been fired in a wood fire to emulate the surface colouration of the original.  It has been given a finish of bees wax, a material also identified in residue analysis of the originals.  Where hand tools are used I create my own using stone, wood, shell, bone and antler based on original finds or information gained from marks on original artefacts.

Health and Safety

This is a Museum Quality Replica made using the tools and techniques that would have been used during the Neolithic era.  As this is an unglazed pot with a porous surface it will absorb some of the flavours during the cooking process, which does add to the flavour of future dishes. However, it does also mean that this pot does not meet modern Health and Safety standards and therefore we do not advise that it is used for cooking with.  When Neolithic cooks cooked in these pots they would rely on applying sufficient heat to the pot and contents to ensure that all bacteria was killed. Heating to over 70°C for at least 10 minutes would have killed most disease causing bacteria and temperatures of 100°C would do even more.

Postage
All items are sent using a second class postal service, if you wish to have an item sent first class please contact my for a quote. Many Thanks