Medieval masonic mystery in Aberdeen

Mediaeval pots dating from the 14th to 16th centuries have been discovered in one of Aberdeen's most historic buildings.

They were found by masons repointing the west wall of one of Aberdeen University's oldest buildings. The four broken pottery jugs were carefully placed behind stones which, in two cases, had been trimmed away at the rear to accommodate them.

The pots were found in King's College Chapel. They had all had their rims and handles removed and were on their sides, with the bases facing the interior of the wall.

Elsewhere in the building, gaps in joints are filled with chips of slate, so the pots had clearly been hidden deliberately. Archaeologists and historians are puzzled about why the jugs are there and would like to know 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.

Masons sometimes 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. Jane Geddes, senior lecturer in art history at Aberdeen University, said: "Our pots are not sealed and were found halfway 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.

Posted by David on June 13, 2004 6:35 PM