Bronze Age Ceramics Gallery

The following images show some of the most interesting vessels before, during and after treatment. We hope that this will demonstrate how effective the conservation process has been and will illustrate the re-interpretation of some of the vessels.

Winterbourne Stoke

The lower half of this vessel is missing. When it was reconstructed the angles of the vessel walls suggested that it was shorter than originally thought.

A pot with lots of cracks and a bottom half made from plaster

Winterbourne Stoke urn
before treatment

A pot with the cracks filled and matched to the colour of the original pot

Winterbourne Stoke urn
after treatment
Bishopstone Urn

The previous restoration of the vessel had covered over decoration in the interior of the vessel. A raised cross, made from clay bands with fingertip impressions, can be seen on the inside of the base.

A close-up of the inside of a pot showing where areas have been gap filled
Bishopstone urn
during treatment

A piece of pot with a design made of indentations in a cross shaped pattern
Design on the
Bishopstone urn


Bishopstone urn
after treatment
Wilsford Urn

This is the first time that the vessel has been reconstructed. It had been partially reconstructed in the past and then later unsuitable restorations removed. The vessel proved to be taller than published illustrations suggested.

An assortment of pot fragments in plastic bags lying in rows on a table
Sherds from the Wilsford urn

A large rim of a pot with some areas missing
Wilsford urn before treatment

A large pot with an arrow shaped design around the rim
Wilsford urn after treatment
Bowerchalke Barrel Urn

The profile of the vessel was significantly improved as a result of this reconstruction. The previous restorer had started working from the rim down and the base up in two separate sections. This resulted in a bulge where the two sections did not meet. This can be seen below on the concrete fill removed from inside the urn.

A large pot shaped piece of concrete standing upright
The concrete fill removed from the urn

The inside of a pot viewed from above. There are bicycle spokes bracing the sides of the pot.
Bicycle spokes used to keep
the urn rigid before conservation

A large pot with a wavy line decoration around the rim
Bowerchalke urn after treatment
Ebbesbourne Wake

The profile of this vessel is much improved.

An uneven shaped pot with a white number writtne on the front
Ebbesbourne Wake urn
before treatment

A pot with gap fills painted in a pale brown colour
Ebbesbourne Wake urn
after treatment
Beckhampton

The lower half of the vessel consists almost completely of reconstruction. The old cement restoration was too short and shapeless.

A bucket shaped pot with a paper label on the front. The lower half of the vessel is made from concrete
Beckhampton urn
before treatment

A bucket shaped vessel with a paper label on the front and the lower half as a complete reconstruction
Beckhampton urn
after treatment
Temple Bottom - 2 vessels

These sherds were reconstructed for the first time.

Part of a pot standing on its rim
Temple Bottom urn
reconstructed

Some fragments of pot on a pale background
Temple Bottom urn 1
before treatment

The base section of a pot with the gap fills painted brown. The rest of the pot is missing
Temple Bottom urn 1
after treatment

Nine fragments of pot on a pale background
Temple Bottom urn 2
before treatment

The reconstructed rim of a pot with the gap fills painted brown. The rest of the pot is missing
Temple Bottom urn 2
after treatment
Ogbourne St Andrew

These sherds were reconstructed for the first time.

Fragments of pot laid out in rows
Ogbourne St Andrew urn
before treatment

Part of a pot including the rim with gap fills painted dark brown
Ogbourne St Andrew urn
after treatment
Bishops Cannings

The previous restoration had built over a terracotta flower pot and so the vessel was originally thought to be a bucket urn. When reconstructed it proved to be a conical urn.

A bucket-shaped vessel with a bulge on one side         A potters wheel with a clay core sitting on it. There are pieces of pot sitting on the clay core        A large pot with a wide rim and a narrow base. There is a curved handle lying flat against the side of the pot

The urn before conservation        The urn during conservation     The urn after conservation