Fig. 71.—Baked Clay Pot Cover from Lough Eyes. One-fourth the real size.
For the escape of steam during the process of boiling, a simple provision is observable in several of these earthen pots. In the neck of the vessel, just below the point where the lid would be supported, is a small circular hole (see figs. [72] and [73]). The aperture occurs in numerous fragments, but it is not now possible to determine whether this class of vessel, when entire, was invariably perforated.[117]
Fig. 72.—Portion of a Perforated Vessel from Lough Eyes. One-half the real size.
Fig. 73.—Portion of a Perforated Vessel from Lough Eyes. One-third the real size.