The Portable Antiquities Scheme

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Grave Fill 2358, Skeleton 2359, Grave Cut 2360

The following objects were recovered during controlled archaeological excavation of an Anglo Saxon cemetery. Grave 2360 contained the remains of a single individual buried in a flexed position on their left side. The head rested upon the left hand, the right hand was positioned over the right forearm in front of the face. The grave was aligned west-northwest to east-southeast (head). The decayed remnants of a wooden box and a spearhead had been placed within the grave above the head. A length of iron chain and an antler ring found in the pelvic area may identify components of a chatelaine. Objects recovered from below the jaw, some made of silver, are interpreted as necklace pendants and fittings. A silver ferrule was found within the box and other silver objects recovered from beneath the distal end of the left humerus may have been included as contents of a leather bag. Typologically the finds indicate that the date of interment was during the second half of the 7^{th or early part of the 8th century.}

Necklace Pendants and Beads

(Finds 142a-n)

Find 142a

Asymmetric monochrome blue bead made of wound translucent glass. Recovered in two parts and refitted during conservation.

Dia Bead: 14mm. Bead Height: 6mm. Dia Perf: 9mm.

Find 142b

Circular silver fitting with two denticulated edges. When excavated it encircled the monochrome blue glass bead

(Find 142a). It was made from a 0.25mm thick rectangular strip of silver, which was overlapped then soldered. The fitting is decorated with a centred line of punched dots.

Dia: 19mm. W: 5mm.

Find 142c

A ring made of circular sectioned drawn silver wire. The ring is completed by winding one end of the undecorated wire five and a half times around the opposing end to form a slip knot. An additional small external loop was also formed at the join.

Dia Ring: 25mm. Dia Wire: 1.5mm

Find 142d

A distorted ring recovered in three parts. The ring is made of undecorated circular sectioned drawn silver wire. The ring was completed by winding one end of the wire tightly four and a half times around the opposing end to form a slip knot. The other end of the wire is damaged but appears to have been bent outward to form an additional small external loop as in

Find 142c.

Dia Ring: c. 23mm. Dia Wire: 1.5mm

Find 142e

A ring of circular sectioned drawn silver wire, recovered in two parts. The ring was completed by crossing the thinned ends of the undecorated wire then winding them twice around the opposing end to form slip knots.

Dia Ring: 24mm. Dia Wire:0.6mm - 1.5mm

.Find 142f

A ring of circular sectioned drawn silver wire, slightly damaged with a small missing segment. The ring was completed by crossing the thinned ends of the undecorated wire then winding them twice around the opposing end to form slip knots.

Dia Ring: 15mm. Dia Wire:0.6mm - 1mm

Find 142g

An undecorated ring of circular sectioned drawn silver wire which thins towardits ends. It is probably part of a slip knot ring although the joint is missing.

Dia Ring: 18mm. Dia Wire:0.8mm - 1.5mm

Find 142h

A small fragment of drawn silver wire, which is curved, undecorated and circular sectioned. It is probably part of a slip knot ring although at least two thirds is missing.

Dia Ring: c.10mm. Dia Wire: c.0.9mm

Find 142i and j

One lozenge and one teardrop shaped amethyst bead. The beads have flattened ends and 2mm diameter perforations running parallel with the long axis.

Find 142i L: 13.5mm. W: c.12mm by 6mm

Find 142j L: 13mm. W: 5.5mm-8mm.

Find 142k

A polychrome wound glass bead. The body is of translucent dark blue glass, a decorative zig-zag band of white glass is applied around the circumference.

Dia Bead: 19mm. Dia Perf: 9mm. Bead Height: 9mm.

Find 142l

A polychrome wound glass bead. The body is of translucent sky blue glass. A decorative zig-zag band of white glass is applied around the circumference.

Dia Bead: 14mm. Dia Perf: 7mm. Bead Height: 7mm.

Find 142m

A sub-rectangular cowrie shell bead, which is slightly waisted and perforated through the longer sides.

L: 13mm. Max W: 8mm.

Find 142n

A small sub-rectangular cowrie(?) shell bead, with an eccentric perforation.

L: 9mm. W: 5mm. Th: 2.75mm.

Box

(Finds 135, 137, 155, 156)

Find 135

Iron padlock hasp? A large incomplete loop with a projecting rectangular sectioned rod, which has a flattened end bent around to form a thin elongated loop. Traces of poorly preserved textile are present.

L: 98mm.

Find 137

Fragments of iron mounts, fittings and nails. Mineralised leather, possibly embossed and mineralised wood are present on some of the objects.

Find 155

A copper alloy and iron barrel lock. The lock mechanism is made of iron, the body bolt collar and plate are made from 0.5mm thick copper alloy sheet which were lead-or silver-soldered together.

L: 36mm. Dia: 16mm - 19mm.

Find 156

A sub-rectangular iron box mount, which tapers slightly at one end. Two copper alloy nails are present at the thinner end (above left) and part of a ferrous rod is present at the other end. Possibly part of a hinge?

L: 64mm W: 16mm - 18mm. Weight 15g.

Box Contents

(Finds 140, 145)

Find 140

Deep ovoid spoon bowl, with a square sectioned stem now mostly missing. A small piece of grass or chaff is concreted into the corrosion at the end of the bowl.

L: 61mm. W: 19mm Th: 9mm. Weight 9g.

Find 145

Rectangular silver strip bent into a sub-circular ring. The object, possibly a ferrule, was recovered in two parts and refitted during conservation. The ends of the ring overlap, a hole for a small rivet is present at the centre of the break. The external surface is covered with copper alloy corrosion. The internal surface is untarnished.

Dia: c.24mm. W: 8mm. Th: 1.2mm Weight 3g.

Spearhead

Iron spearhead

(Find 136). Blade in elongated ovate leaf-shape tapers towards the point, which is now missing. The spearhead has a round sectioned split socket. X-radiography shows a rivet hole present near the end of the socket.

L: 175mm Max W: 23mm. Dia Socket: . Dia Socket Hol: Weight 89g

Knife

Iron knife

(Find 146), near complete although in three parts. Top set rectangular section tang (L: 32mm). The back of the blade is angled and the cutting edge curved.

L: 152mm. Max W 25mm. Th: 5.5mm.

Chatelaine

(Finds 141, 144 and 147)

Fragment of antler disc. A single eccentric perforation lies 25mm in from the outer edge adjacent to the edge of a larger central perforation. The faces of the disc are decorated, traces of four concentric bands of ring and dot are present on one face and two concentric bands of ring and dot are evident on the other face. Three deliberate notches are tentatively identified on the edge of the disc fragment

Dia Disc: c.70mm. Th: 4.5mm. Weight 5g

Find 144

Three fragments of a corroded iron chain comprising parts of at least six s-shaped links. Mineralised textile is present.

Find 147

Five fragments of iron chain and a section of a relatively large iron terminal loop. The largest fragment of chain comprises eight connected s shaped links. Mineralised twill, tabby and braided textiles are present.

Bag and Contents

(Finds 143a-i)

Find 143a

A miniature ear scoop made from a silver rod. The shaft is decorated with parallel encircling lines. One end is slightly flattened and has a small perforation containing remnants of thread. The other end has been flattened to a greater degree and is spatulate.

L: 23mm. Dia Shaft: 1.5mm.

Find 143b

Miniature tweezers made from a thin sheet of silver. A large amount of copper corrosion has adhered to the surface of the tweezers and almost disguised the silver. One end is perforated for suspension.

L: 24mm. W: 2.5mm

Find 143c

A rectangular sectioned copper alloy fitting with rounded and perforated terminals at each end. Copper alloy rivets were inserted through the perforations to attach it to another object. One of the rounded ends is damaged and the rivet missing, the other is complete with mineralised leather adhering to the rivet.

L: 13mm.

Find 143d

A rectangular sectioned copper alloy fitting with rounded and perforated terminals at each end. Copper alloy rivets were inserted through the perforations to attach it to another object. One of the rounded terminals is damaged and the rivet missing, the other is complete with the rivet in situ. A small patch of mineralised textile is present.

L: 13mm.

Two small double headed copper alloy rivets. The missing rivets from the damaged terminals of

Finds 143c and 143d.

L: c.4mm.

Finds 143g

Copper alloy wire ring which is damaged and in three parts. One end of the wire is wound around the other end to form a sliding knot. The ring is formed from rounded wire which thins toward the non wound end. Two parallel strands of s-spun linen thread are present.

Max Dia Ring: c.26mm. Max Dia Wire: 2.5mm.

Finds 143h

Eight fragments of thin iron strip. Three of the fragments exhibit curvature at one end. The function of these objects is unclear.

L: Varies. W: 3mm.

Finds 143i

Five fragments of leather. Part of a bag?

Find 141

No references cited so far.

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Created: Thursday 24th June 2010
Updated: Thursday 24th June 2010