The piece of the month: An unusual casserole

MEDIEVAL CASSEROLE WITH TUBULAR SPOUT AND PINCH SPOUT FROM CAN SANT JOAN

• Origin: Stratum UE 148 from silo E31 of Can Sant Joan (Sant Cugat del Vallès, Vallès Occ.)
• Excavation: 2008 – 2009 (Arrago sl)
• Serial Number: CSJ08/09-31-148-2
• Stratigraphic Dating: 10^th – 11^th centuries
• Material: Earthenware.
• Dimensions:  Height 7,2 cm. Maximum diameter 28 cm. Tubular spout: 10,6cm high and it has a 2,4cm diameter.
• Description: This piece has straight walls slightly inclined outwards, with rounded and thickened lip, flattened or slightly curved bottom (shape IX.3, Roig 2012). It has a tubular spout at the top of the vase and a pinched spout at the side. Its function is unclear, perhaps to contain, manipulate, and transfer liquids or semi-liquids.
• Parallel: This type of container was first identified, not the whole part but partially, in the church of San Menna and  in the site of Olèrdola. In Can Sant Joan it was found a whole piece and this helped to characterize the type. This piece can be assigned to the IX.3 shape of the post-Carolingian Catalan ceramics (10^th – 11^th c.). It has also been located in Can Roqueta II (identified as pan), and some fragments in archaeological surveys as  C / San Ramon, 1-3 (Santa Perpètua de Mogoda), Can Gambús-1 (Sabadell), Plana del Castell (Cerdanyola del Vallès), among others.
• Bibliography:
  
  1. ROIG, J. (2012), “La cerámica del período carolingio y primera época condal en la Cataluña Vieja: las produccions reducidas, oxidantes y espatuladas (siglos IX, X y XI). Propuesta de tipologia”, Actas del IX Congresso Internazionale AIECM2, Venezia 23-29 Novembre 2009, Venezia 2012, p. 197-200.
  2. ROIG, J. – COLL, J.M. (2000): “Consideraciones acerca de un contexto cerámico de en torno al año mil en el condado de Barcelona: Sant Menna (Sentmenat Vallès Occ.)”, Actas del V Congreso de Arqueologia Medieval Española, Valladolid 1999, Volumen II, Junta de Castilla i León, Valladolid,  p.589-597.
  3. ROIG J. – MATAS, O. (2011): “La intervenció arqueològica a Can Sant Joan Sud-Est 2008-2009 (Sant Cugat del Vallès): un vilatge altmedieval del segle IX-X i les restes d’un mas abandonat al segle XIV”, Actes del IV Congrés d’Arqueologia Medieval i Moderna a Catalunya, Tarragona del 10 al 13 de juny de 2010, Ajuntament de Tarragona, ACRAM, Tarragona, 2011, Volum I, p. 511-526.