This pottery analysis is based on examination of fabrics which was carried out in the late 1970s. At the time of writing, new methods of fabric identification are being tested by the British Geological Survey, using Inductively-Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy (ICPS). The evidence is now unambiguous that Phase 1 of ICPS analysis and the pilot study (Chenery et al. 2001, 45-53) that this technique is an extremely successful method of chemically sourcing Scottish redware ceramic material. It is hoped in the future that it will be possible to identify the source of, for example, the East coast redwares which have been produced in Scotland since the mid-13th century and occur in every east-coast burgh north of the river Tay (Hall 1996, 135 and see Hall 1998 for a full assessment of the Scottish medieval pottery industry).
In addition, three probable sources of White Gritty Ware have been identified in Scotland: Lothian, Tweedale and Fife (Haggarty 1984, 396). So far no kilns producing Fife White Gritty Wares have been excavated (Hall 1997, 56) but examination of the geology of the area has suggested areas where they may have been situated. It is only with further analysis of products from archaeological sites, identification and excavation of kilns and production centres that more will be learned about these fabrics.
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