MSSCW - Medieval South Suffolk Coarseware

Medium sandy greyware with sparse to abundant very fine mica, sparse coarse rounded white or clear quartz, very occasional other inclusions such as calcareous or ferrous material. Occasionally oxidised (mainly surfaces only). Hard, well-fired, wheelmade.

TS sample description (Patrick Quinn): Poorly-sorted coarse sand to silt-sized inclusions. Generally rounded sparse sand sized inclusions of quartz, with rare chert, polycrystalline quartz and ferruginous incusions that was probably added as temper. Possible pottery fragment. Abundant more angular silt-sized intrinsic inclusions of quartz, muscovite mica and oxidised glauconite. Coarse inclusions unevenly distributed. Non-vitrified, non-calcareous clay matrix that is oxidised on one margin and poorly-oxidised elsewhere. Sparse meso-elongate drying voids. Similar to Sample 24 (MESCW), but contains fine glauconite.

Example from Preston St Mary.

MSSCW - Medieval South Suffolk Coarseware

Microscope examples from Lavenham (top) and Elmswell (bottom).