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MHG30024 - Mortar - Kilmallie Road

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Found by some children while playing on the banks of the Caledonian Canal, this object was handed in to the West Highland Museum. David Caldwell, National Museums of Scotland, was emailed the attached photos and commented as follows;

"It looks to me like a mortar or mash tub, likely to be of post-medieval date. They are often to be found lying around farm-steadings, and were used in the past for pounding (mashing) grain. They are often misidentified as fonts, and, indeed, are often found at old churches in the Highlands and Islands - full of water, with coins, sometimes also containing a crude stone pestle or stone
rubber. There is a need for an anthropological study as to who leaves the money and why! This one appears to be smaller than many others I have seen.
I hope this helps.
Dr David H Caldwell
Depute Keeper, History & Applied Art"

The information was passed on to the children who found the stone.

A M Fox, Highland Council, 11.06.01

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NN 1104 7665 (4m by 4m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NN17NW
Civil Parish	KILMALLIE
Geographical Area	LOCHABER

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