Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: HESH-A29404
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Cast copper alloy sword pommel dating from the Early Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) period, probably 900-1100 AD. The pommel is hollow, sub-oval in plan and sub-triangular in profile. The underside of the pommel is convex; each side is decorated with five cast stepped rounded lobes which increase in height towards the centre. The pommel measures 52.2mm in length, 26.7mm width and is 14.5mm thick. It weighs 58.32 grams.
The top of the pommel has a sub circular hole (8.3mm x 8mm) in it and the base an oval hole (33.4mm x 10.2mm). These allow the tang of the sword to attach to the pommel. The remains of an iron tang are present. The metal is covered in a mid-orange colour corrosion product. There are no rivets present therefore the pommel was presumably held in place simply by the hammered tang and handle.
The pommel is a light-mid green colour with a much abraded patina which covers most surfaces. The pommel has been abraded in the ploughsoil. A number of areas around the edges have also been damaged. This has caused the pommel to become asymmetrical. A number of similar pommels have been recorded by the PAS and compared to either examples published in London Museum Medieval Catalogue (pages 22 ref: fig.22, VII) or by Peterson in 1919. This fits into Peterson's typology as an L type VI pommel, which is a fusion of Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Scandinavian fashions. These authorities all date this style of pommel to the later early medieval period, specifically from the 10th or 11th centuries
Class:
Pommel
Sub class: Peterson L type VI
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Scandinavian style
Date from: AD 900
Date to: AD 1100
Quantity: 1
Length: 52.2 mm
Width: 26.7 mm
Thickness: 14.5 mm
Weight: 58.32 g
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 11th April 2005
This information is restricted for your access level.
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Iron
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: SO5928
Four figure Latitude: 51.948973
Four figure longitude: -2.597943
1:25K map: SO5928
1:10K map: SO52NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1000 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
London Museum | 1940 | London Museum Medieval Catalogue | London | HMSO | 22 | fig: 2: VII |