Size does matter: Early modern measuring cups from Lisbon

Pottery measuring cups of different shapes and sizes are frequently found in Early Modern archaeological contexts in Portugal. In the early 16th century, King Manuel I standardized all measures and weights throughout the kingdom, and thus all measuring cups used in trade were calibrated and dated by local authorities every year, a system that was only revised in the second half of the 19th century. Over two dozen measuring cups were found in Rua do Arsenal in Lisbon. They reveal how different measures were used on a daily basis in a riverfront commercial area of the city.