Fragments of a Hanging-Bowl from Bekesbourne,Kent, and Some Ornamental Problems

ENGLAND IN THE 9TH CENTURY witnessed a revolution in pottery production. For the first time since the Roman period, pottery was wheel-thrown and produced on a near industrial scale. Research into this ceramic revolution has focused on chronology and, in particular, whether the technology was introduced before Scandinavian settlement. Yet, little attention has been paid to technological choices made by the potters or how these choices were influenced by wider societal changes. This paper takes a holistic approach to production, employing a range of analytical techniques to reveal the production sequence followed by potters working at one of the new industries — Torksey (Lincolnshire). With new insights into raw material choices, processing procedures, vessel forming practices and firing regimes, the paper challenges long-standing assumptions about manufacturing practice and the spread of the potters’ wheel. Opening a window into the mind of the potter, this article offers a greater understanding of the mechanisms that facilitated the diffusion and ultimate success of this new technology.