Cite record | Embed record | Print | | Report
Crescent
Unique ID: PAS-BDF674
Object type certainty: Certain
There are currently no images available.
A strip of very flimsy sheet gold describing an even crescentic shape, broadest in the middle and tapering gently to the ends. The terminals are expanded a little to form oval tabs, each with a central perforation, although one tab is broken across the perforation. This loss evidently occurred in antiquity, for there is a secondary perforation in the neck of the terminal. The edges of the crescent, including the tabs, are entirely outlined with closely set punched dots. The dots are about 0.9mm across, protrude beyond the surface by about 0.2mm and number 6-7 per centimetre.
Dimensions and metal content: Present length: 264mm; maximum breadth: 11.7mm; thickness: approximately 0.1mm; weight: 2.9g. X-ray fluorescence analysis conducted at the British Museum indicated an approximate gold content of 90 per cent.
The precise form of this ornament is new, but it can be related stylistically to the earliest goldwork in Britain and Western Europe. Although recalling to mind the gold lunulae most often found in Ireland, the Braithwaite piece is much less substantial and elaborate. Neither does it have the strong curvature of lunulae. It is an important addition to the repertoire of primary beaker goldwork from Britain.
Notes:
When found the object was folded up into a small parcel, about one inch (2.5cm) across. The finder unravelled it to reveal a sheet-gold ornament, but the folding has left numerous transverse creases, some sharp. The Treasure Valuation Committee recommended to the Secretary of State that the finder=s reward be reduced by 10 per cent because of this.
Class: Early Bronze Age Gold
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: British Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: PREHISTORIC
Period from: PREHISTORIC [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Date from: Circa 2500 BC
Date to: Circa 2000 BC
Dimensions and weight
Length: 264 mm
Width: 11.7 mm
Thickness: 0.1 mm
Weight: 2.9 g
Quantity: 1
Materials and construction
Primary material: Gold [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Decoration method: Multiple [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Decoration style: Other [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Completeness: Incomplete [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Spatial data
Region: Yorkshire And The Humber
County: South Yorkshire
To be known as: Braithwaite
Method of discovery: Chance find during metal detecting
[scope notes]
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 31st March 2001
Personal details
Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Identified by: Stuart Needham - [view all attributed records]
Other reference numbers
Museum accession number: P&EE 88
References cited
No references cited so far.
QR barcode
If you have a mobile phone equipped with QR recognition software, you can go directly to the webpage that this record resides at. Every record has an individual one of these.
Spotted a mistake? Tell us. | Be the first to comment
Comment on this artefact's record
Data entered via this form is checked against the akismet service to recognise spam.
Audit data
Created:
Wednesday 9th July 2003
Updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Social Bookmarking: 
