Excavations at the Carmelite friary

One of the fines finds from the stream was a tin plate. Apart from a small dent in the rim it was completely undamaged. Such plates were typically used in "better society" for mustard and sauces. The plate ist quite uniquely decorated with a bearded Jesus head with aurá, reminiscent of the famous "Veronica's veil" (Sudarium).

Typically for an urban excavation, a large amount of medieval toys were found, which came from the Carmelites neighbours along the stream, not from the friary itself. This complex included the characteristic ceramic puppets, horses and miniature pots, along with several rarities, including a child's rattle in the form of a bird (cockerel?).



Bibliography: J. A. Elders, Farmers, Friars, Millers, Tanners; a study of the development of a medieval suburb bases on recent excavations on the site of a Carmelite friary inthe Obertorvorstadt,Esslingen am Neckar, Germany. Unpublished Ph. D. Thesis University of Nottingham 1996 [British Library]. H. Schäfer, Das Karmeliterkloster in der Obertorvorstadt in Esslingen, in: Archäologische Ausgrabungen in Baden-Württemberg 1991, Stuttgart 1992. H. Schäfer, Befunde "Auf dem Kies". Grabungen südlich des Karmeliterklosters in Esslingen, in: Archäologische Ausgrabungen in Baden-Württemberg 1992, Stuttgart 1993.