As the seams of the pot were riveted, to get it liquid tight, a historic method was indicated as well. This is a fast look at the 'cook some oatmeal' method.
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Here is a nice view of the pot when first placed over the fire in the cooking shelter here at Wareham. The simple hook style trammel is also loosely based on a Norse artifact, and was made specifically for the upcoming DARC at LAM 2010 presentation.
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The pot was first heated, then a pre-soaked mixture of oatmeal was added. I had used all the oats we had on hand, maybe about enough (unsoaked) to fill a one litre container. I suspected the seam along the bottom of the cylinder, where it attached to the dished base, to be the most likely to leak. For that reason, I wanted to start the process with fairly thick material.
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To effect the side seams as well, I filled the pot with water, mixing up a medium thick 'gruel'. The result was something more like a thick oat soup than 'stop a bullet' breakfast oatmeal. I have not directly measured the volume of the pot, but it must be something about four litres.
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This closeup shows the spot which initially leaked the most. Although when the full addition of water was made, it did run out a bit, that was reduced to a dripping after a couple of minutes. I tried to catch a drop just as it formed and fell in this image. After about five minutes however, even that one per second dripping had stopped.
In keeping with the method, after I dumped the contents (happy pond fish!) I scrubbed the interior with sand - but the interior only. Any baked debris were left on the outer surface. The whole process was fast and easy. If I had a hall full of Norse to feed, the oatmeal gruel would not have gone to waste.
I expect Vandy / Bera may have some commentary on her blog later - when the pot is used to cook lunch for us all at L'Anse aux Meadows starting next week...