Beaker, poppyhead beaker

This is a Roman grey ceramic beaker with brown dotted decoration. This pottery shape and style tells us that it was made by potters working at modern-day Highgate Woods between 100-160 CE. It is known as a 'Poppyhead' beaker and these were only made and used in Roman Britain. Archaeologists found this beaker in the burial of a 26 to 35 year old man at St Clare Street in the city, where it had been carefully placed, perhaps full of wine, so the man had a drink for their journey to the afterlife, or to allow him to 'join in' the funeral feast their mourners would have had at the grave-side. These feasts took place when the person was buried and also at an annual festival.