Pottery use and social inequality in Mid-18th century Lisbon: An initial approach

On the morning of 1 November 1755 a large portion of Lisbon was destroyed in the Earthquake followed by a tsunami and a fire which lasted for several days. Several contexts destroyed in that peculiar morning reveal what type of pottery was being consumed in mid-18th century households. This paper focus on the discoveries from three different sites in Lisbon reflecting three different social environments where pottery was used in the most basic activities. A poor house located outside the city wall, a «middle class» dwelling and a palace belonging to an important noble family, all of them destroyed in that day, reveal what people were using on a daily basis.