Roman mortarium
A shallow clay bowl with grit in the base and a spout, for grinding and mashing food.
Mortaria show how Roman cooking with sauces and spices spread across the empire. Many are stamped with the potter’s name. Examples are in the British Museum and the Museum of London.
Materials: Fired clay, quartz or flint grit
Manufacture: Thrown on the wheel; grit was pressed into the inside before firing to roughen the surface.
The heavy curved rim with a spout for pouring.
The grit in the base – a built-in grater.