Rights Holder: Norfolk County Council
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RELIQUARY
Unique ID: NMS-96F200
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
One end of a Middle Saxon copper alloy workbox of unusually large diameter (84.5mm), comprising a circular sheet disc (1mm thick), decorated with a central cross within two concentric circles formed from multiple repoussé dots. There are three evenly spaced rivet holes (all c.2mm diam) centred at approximately 9.5mm from the outside edge, punched through from the reverse. These perforations are close to the inner concentric line of dots, which, in one instance, curves inward to avoid the perforation (this may be coincidental as the holes otherwise look secondary). The sheet is slightly crumpled with a fragment missing from the outer edge. Weight 32.72g.
Workboxes are cylindrical, sheet copper alloy and have hinged or push-pull lids. They have been found in graves belonging to the second half of the seventh century. When their contents survive they usually comprise textile scraps, threads or vegetable matter; many are decorated with crosses, and they may have functioned as early reliquaries (Geake 1997, 34-5). They are usually flimsy and some may have been repaired before being buried, as in the case of the workbox found in Buckland Dover grave 107 (Evison 1987, 106-7 and fig. 48). This might explain the presence of the (possibly) secondary rivet-holes. This example appears to be the largest workbox recorded thus far, with its diameter of 84.5mm, the previously recorded outer limits of the range being 40mm-70mm (Geake 1997, 34).
c.675 - c.700.
Find of note status
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Saxon style
Date from: Circa AD 675
Date to: Circa AD 700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 1 mm
Weight: 32.72 g
Diameter: 84.5 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 13th May 2013 - Monday 10th June 2013
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
SMR reference number: 3257
Other reference: KLMD062013
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Norfolk (County)
District: King's Lynn and West Norfolk (District)
Parish or ward: Sandringham (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TF6626
Four figure Latitude: 52.806005
Four figure longitude: 0.461203
1:25K map: TF6626
1:10K map: TF62NE
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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