This year’s major piece of ceramic work has been the continuing analysis and reporting of a sizeable assemblage of pottery from James Barrett’s excavations at Quoygrew in Orkney. The site, a late Norse fish-processing settlement, is largely producing sherds from vessels in the ubiquitous Organic Tempered Wares which are virtually undatable, but are being found in association with Scottish Red and White wares of medieval date from the mainland.

Another important group of pottery from Headland’s excavations of the Franciscan Friary at Shuttle Street in Glasgow has also been written up this year and includes a remarkable group of imported pottery from France and the Rhineland, which serves to prove that the friars possessed a very upmarket dining table!