South East Scotland has produced vast assemblages of medieval pottery, particularly from urban areas, monastic sites, and elite residences. There is evidence of considerable use of imported ceramics, with large quantities of pottery being brought in from England (especially in the period before 1300) and the Low Countries (Hall 1996). Ceramics from further afield have also been discovered, with Italian pottery being recovered at several sites in Edinburgh and Leith, as well as at Morrison Haven, Archerfield, and Fast Castle (Haggarty 2020). Indeed, Fast Castle also produced evidence of late medieval imports from the Low Countries, Germany, France, and the Iberian Peninsula (Haggarty and Jennings, 1992). Although significant research into imported ceramics has already been undertaken, further investigation of the networks by which imported wares reached Scotland, and the extent to which they penetrated into the areas outside of the major burghs, castles, and monastic sites might be beneficial.
The South East also saw considerable pottery production. It has been suggested that the major monastic orders played a significant role in fostering the development of medieval pottery in Lothian and the Borders, and further research into this question would be of interest (Tabraham et al 1984, 395-396). Several kiln sites have been identified in the region. In the mid-20th century excavations were undertaken of the medieval pottery kilns at Colstoun, near Haddington (Brooks, 1978). In the 2010s there was some archaeological investigation of the medieval tile kiln at North Berwick Priory, which revealed the back wall of the kiln, as well as other tile and stone-built structures (Hall 2012). This kiln had previously been studied in the 1920s, at which time a significant assemblage of medieval decorated floor tiles were discovered. Meanwhile, at the beginning of the 2020s AOC Archaeology uncovered two medieval kilns at Moat Farm, Lasswade, near Roslin. Large quantities of ceramics were uncovered from this site, including three ‘almost complete’ jugs. Because of the small number of securely identified medieval Scottish kiln sites, such discoveries are of considerable significance. Further work to identify kiln sites would be desirable.
Impressive work has already been undertaken regarding the medieval pottery of South East Scotland, but there is still potential for more research. In recent years there have been efforts use chemical analysis to more confidently source the origins of Scottish medieval whitewares and redwares (Haggarty et al 2011). It has been suggested that further scientific analysis of redwares could help us understand at what date production of this type of pottery began and ended in Scotland.
There is also a need for more research into the use of ceramics in rural areas during the medieval period – including consideration of the possibility that some remote communities were largely aceramic. At present we have a considerable information about medieval ceramics in South East Scotland, but it is concentrated around urban and elite sites. Any medieval pottery from lower status rural sites is therefore of considerable significance.
Pottery Research Questions
- How extensive was pottery production in South East Scotland during the medieval period? Which places were making ceramics? Where were the kilns located? Where was the clay sourced from?
- To what extent was there a difference in the type and prevalence of ceramics in urban and rural areas?
- How common was imported pottery? What were the chief sources of imported ceramics?
- How did the type and design of ceramic items evolve during the medieval period?
- How widespread was the use of glazes on locally made ceramics?
- To what extent did the design of local ceramics follow international trends?