BH-F91D77: Medieval swivel (incomplete)

Rights Holder: St. Albans District Council
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STRAP FITTING

Unique ID: BH-F91D77

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation Find awaiting validation

Part of a copper-alloy swivel of Medieval date.

The piece represents the half of the swivel and consists of a roughly 'D-shaped' frame with oval-sectioned sides which gradually expand towards each end, where they terminate in a pair of zoomorphic ends flanking a central block. The downward-facing heads are heavily stylised, with a longitudinal groove separating the small moulded ears, steep brow with central ridge, and upward curving snout. At the base of the snout of one animal there is a shallow groove, creating the impression of a lower jaw in addition to the upper one. The central block is of oval section, with a convex upper surface and a flat underside with projecting spigot at the centre.

Dimensions: 29.9mm long, 26mm wide, 11.8mm deep (at block). Weight: 14.65g.

This form of swivel is well represented on the PAS database, notable parallels being NMS-B8E3D2 and DENO-8FAF42. Despite the Romanesque appearance of the zoomorphic heads, Helen Geake (2001: 72) believes that swivels of this form were probably in use throughout most of the Medieval period.

Class: swivel

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Exactly AD 1066
Date to: Exactly AD 1500

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 29.9 mm
Width: 26 mm
Weight: 14.65 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 1st January 2013

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: Ver 13/28 - 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete

Spatial metadata

Region: Eastern (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Essex (County)
District: Uttlesford (District)
To be known as: Chrishall

Spatial coordinates


Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land
Specific landuse: Character undetermined

References cited

Author Publication Year Title Publication Place Publisher Pages Reference
Geake, H. 2001 Finds Recording Guide Version 1.1

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Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: BH
Created: 11 years ago
Updated: 6 years ago

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