Mysterious medieval pots found in King's College Chapel
Medieval pots dating back to between the 14 and 16th centuries have been discovered by masons at one of Aberdeen's most historic buildings.
While masons were re-pointing the west wall of one of the University of Aberdeen's oldest buildings they came across four broken pottery jugs carefully placed behind the stones, which in two cases had been trimmed away at the rear to accommodate the jugs.
The pots, found in the King's College Chapel, had all been set on their sides, their rims and handles removed, with the bases facing into the interior of the wall. Elsewhere in the building, gaps in the joints are filled with chips of slate, so these pots have clearly been hidden deliberately.
Archaeologists and historians are puzzled as to why the jugs are there, and if similar examples have been found elsewhere. Pots in walls are unusual but not unknown.
Larger vessels, known as acoustic jars, were inserted into interior church walls, usually at the east-end, to improve the sound. Sealed 'witch bottles' were placed in strategic parts of domestic buildings, such as under the hearth or under the threshold. Sometimes masons left a sealed 'time capsule' at the wall head, to celebrate the topping-out ceremony. This would contain a memento from the masons, perhaps even their names.
Dr Jane Geddes, Senior Lecturer in Art History at the University of Aberdeen, said: "Our pots are not sealed and were found half-way up the wall in the King's College Chapel.
"It may be significant that they are at the same level as the three heraldic plaques. We are interested in finding out what the jars were used for - could it be that the jars were used as handy paint pots for painting the heraldry? Although there were no traces of paint found on the pots.
"Another unlikely explanation is that they were left as holes for birds' nests - although this is unlikely on the most prestigious front of the chapel. The condition and placing of the pots is clearly deliberate."
Judith Stones of Aberdeen City Council's Archaeological Unit is equally intrigued. She said: "These were originally small squat jugs, about 15 cm diameter, of a type made in the Aberdeen area between the late 14th and 16th centuries. They are, therefore, probably contemporary with the building of the Chapel in the early 1500s. This is a very intriguing discovery."
The pot is now on display in King's College Chapel for the general public to view until the end of June. Dr Geddes added: "Any suggestions as to their purpose, or information about other examples would be gratefully received."