Amphora

Amphora were used to transport foodstuffs around the Roman empire. Their distinctive spike was designed so they could be stored upright, and excavation of shipwrecks has shown that it also helped to keep them stable when transported by sea or river. They were sealed with a clay, cork or wooden stopper, which was often covered in wax or resin. This amphora was found at Lombard Street in the city, it originally came from southern Spain and dates from the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. Archaeologists think that it had been used to transport fish sauce. It seems that someone put a hole in the amphora - perhaps they couldn't get the stopper off!