Record ID: BH-A7AEE6
Object type: ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A carved piece of ornamental stonework, dating from the medieval to post-medieval periods and probably representing a moulded detail from a tomb or other ecclesiastical feature. The following description is by Chris Green: 'The object itself is very incomplete but appears to be part of an engaged half-column with moulding; the neat chiselled dressing looks unfinished. Part of a tomb or similar ???? , presumed medieval or later. I had a good look at this under the microscope, and showed it to Haydon Bailey (President Herts Geological Soc). It is a very coarse limestone largely fo…
Created on: Wednesday 23rd December 2015
Last updated: Wednesday 23rd December 2015
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'St. Stephen', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-FAE5C2
Object type: WEIGHT
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Milton Keynes
Workflow stage: Published
A shaped stone weight, probably dating from the Medieval period and produced for weighing down a fish trap. The weight has been carved from local oolitic limestone and is roughly T-shaped. The oval-sectioned shaft is reasonably well finished and there is a cylindrical perforation a short distance above the halfway point. The head has squared-off sides but the top is irregular. Much of the surface is covered by a dark stain from its deposition or use. Height: 145mm; width: 92.5mm; thickness: 62.7mm; hole diameter: 18.2mm. Weight: 863.1g. These weights are discussed by Dennis C…
Created on: Tuesday 28th April 2015
Last updated: Thursday 30th April 2015
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: BH-C2EBDD
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: IRON AGE
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Published
Part of a Late Iron Age to Early Roman rotary quern stone. The piece represents just under half of the originally ring-shaped upper stone. The stone is of classic 'bee hive' form, being domed, with a flat underside, and retains part of its inverted-conical hopper, located centrally. Part of a conical handle socket extends horizontally from the outer face, terminating a short distance from the hopper. Another feature of the stone is a recessed perimeter band, which probably represents a seating for a driving strap. The puddingstone itself is a conglomerate comprising small to medium…
Created on: Saturday 13th December 2014
Last updated: Monday 12th January 2015
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: BH-9CBA96
Object type: HAMMERSTONE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Hertfordshire
Workflow stage: Published
A sub-ovoid cobble with pitted surface (see lower view in image), which may indicate use as a prehistoric hammer stone. It should be noted, however, that cobbles used in road surfaces also develop similar wear patterns. Length: 71.8mm; width: 60.3mm; thickness: 37.5mm. Weight: 239.28g.
Created on: Saturday 29th November 2014
Last updated: Thursday 4th December 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: BH-8525D6
Object type: BATTLEAXE
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Bedford
Workflow stage: Published
A ground stone battle axe, probably of Scandinavian origin and dating from the Neolithic period. The axe, which survives intact, is of flattened-oval section, tapering to a wedge-shaped, downward-curving blade. The cylindrical socket is located close to the butt of the axe, where there is a rearward, hammer-like projection of circular section. The tool has been made from a medium-textured grey stone with a strand-like structure. Orangey-brown deposits on the surface of the implement are probably the result of the tool having been deposited in a wet environment. Length: 147.8mm; …
Created on: Monday 23rd June 2014
Last updated: Friday 18th July 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: BH-988380
Object type: SEAL MATRIX
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Cambridgeshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A printing face from a post-Medieval to Modern seal matrix. The matrix comprises an oval cameo within a copper-alloy frame. The stone, translucent and deep orange in colour, is probably a banded agate. A Classical bust has been deeply cut into the surface of this stone. This image, which shows a young male facing left (when printed), wearing a lion skin on his head, is almost certainly a depiction of Hercules/Herakles. A deep groove extends around the vertical face of the rim, broken only by the two holes (one at either end) by which the rest of the matrix would have been attached,…
Created on: Monday 31st March 2014
Last updated: Tuesday 1st April 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Melbourn', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-7892B1
Object type: ROTARY QUERN
Broad period: IRON AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Published
Part of Late Iron Age to Early Roman rotary quern. The surviving piece represents approximately one third of the originally ring-shaped upper stone of classic 'bee-hive' form. The outer sides angle inwards, towards the top. The inverted-conical hopper is centrally located and there is also a conical handle socket which extends horizontally through the stone, from the outer face to just short of the hopper. The flat underside of the stone is well worn through use. Length of piece: 190mm; width: 90mm; height: 90mm; weight: 2.345kg. Chris Green has examined this quernstone and i…
Created on: Friday 21st February 2014
Last updated: Tuesday 7th October 2014
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Farnham', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-215F62
Object type: PERFORATED OBJECT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: County of Herefordshire
Workflow stage: Published
A stone perforated object of probable Mesolithic to Neolithic date. The artefact has been made from a light greyish-brown quartzite pebble and is sub-oval in plan, with a lenticular cross section. The extent to which this form is natural (i.e. river worn), or has been achieved through deliberate grinding, is uncertain. The surfaces bear several shallow scratches, some of which may be contemporary with the production of the piece, others possibly being the result of post-depositional damage. Near the centre point of each of the two convex surfaces there is a circular depression, the…
Created on: Friday 7th December 2012
Last updated: Thursday 3rd July 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: BH-54BBD6
Object type: BEAD
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Central Bedfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A carved and polished bead of uncertain date and material. The bead is roughly spherical and has an off-centre perforation of circular section. The point from which this perforation has been drilled is marked by an inverted conical depression. The surface is divided between patches of various colours, from pinkish-white to orange and various shades of grey. At at least two points these patches are crossed by parallel veins of white. The bead is damaged in places. It measures 16.3mm in diameter, 14.2mm high and weighs 5.09g. The weight and appearance of this bead suggest it is prob…
Created on: Friday 10th February 2012
Last updated: Friday 10th February 2012
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Great Billington', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-E52682
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: IRON AGE
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Approximately half of a roughout for a rotary quernstone of Late Iron Age or Early Roman date. The original form of the piece would have been circular. Both the upper and lower surfaces are convex with no attempt having been made to flatten a griding surface. The material employed is puddingstone, probably of East Hertfordshire origin. The object measures approximately 210mm in diameter, 110mm high and weighs 3510g.
Created on: Thursday 26th May 2011
Last updated: Thursday 26th May 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Ugley', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-E4F2F3
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Essex
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Approximately half of a circular rotary quernstone of Roman (probably mid 1st to mid 2nd century) date. The truncated conical piece represents half of a top stone from a 'beehive' type quern. It is made from puddingstone, probably of East Hertfordshire origin. At the centre is an inverted conical hopper. The piece measures approximately 210mm in diameter, 90mm high and weighs 3040g.
Created on: Thursday 26th May 2011
Last updated: Thursday 26th May 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Ugley', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-85E584
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Bedford
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a rotary quernstone, probably of Roman date. The piece does not appear to retain any portion of its outer side. Both surfaces show evidence of having been shaped the upper surface, worn smooth, has a 'pecked' appearace from the shaping process, while the underside bears several parallel grooves. The thickness of the stone decreases towards the outside. The material employed is an even-grained, coarse gritstone of uncertain origin. The object measures 110mm long, 95mm wide (remaining diameter) and up to 32mm thick. It weighs 434.7g.
Created on: Friday 15th April 2011
Last updated: Thursday 12th May 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'North Bedfordshire', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-85D191
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Bedford
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a rotary quernstone, probably dating from the Roman period. The piece does not retain any portion of its outer side. The worked surface is slightly concave. The stone is an unidentified coarse gritstone which contains frequent large white pebbles. The object measures 125mm long, 100mm wide and 50mm thick. It weighs 959.8g.
Created on: Friday 15th April 2011
Last updated: Thursday 12th May 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'North Bedfordshire', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-85B741
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Bedford
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Two adjoining fragments of a circular rotary quernstone from a small hand-mill. The two pieces represent approximately one quarter of the original stone. At the centre is a portion of the central spindle hole. The upper surface is flat and bears some concentric grooves from the milling process. Part of the curved outer edge survives. The stone employed is a coarse-grained gritstone of uncertain origin. The piece measures 140mm wide, indicating an original diameter of approximately 300mm. It measures up to 175mm long, 50mm thick and weighs 1.495kg. Small rotary querns are a reasona…
Created on: Friday 15th April 2011
Last updated: Thursday 12th May 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'North Bedfordshire', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-859FC5
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Bedford
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a rotary hand-quern of probable Roman date. The convex upper surface indicates that this is part of a base stone. The piece represents part of the outer side of an originally circular stone, the diameter of which would have been slightly wider than that of the remaining piece. The stone used is a reasonably fine-grained limestone and has been worn smooth in places. Adhering to the outside is what appears to be a patch of iron corrosion, which may have originated from an attached iron band. The piece measures approximately 280mm wide, 80mm deep and weighs in excess of 2…
Created on: Friday 15th April 2011
Last updated: Thursday 12th May 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'North Bedfordshire', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-0C1038
Object type: LITHIC IMPLEMENT
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Devon
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A struck flake of chert, probably dating from the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age (c. 2500BC- c. 1500BC). The flake has been struck from a prepared core, a small portion of the flat core platform remaining at the proximal end. The length of the flake is approximately three times the width. From the proximal end the long sides diverge towards the distal end. One third of the way from the distal end there is a narrower 'waist', below which the sides become parallel, terminating in a blunt point. It seems likely that this waist and point have been deliberately created, perh…
Created on: Friday 4th March 2011
Last updated: Friday 13th May 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: BH-B0C897
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Central Bedfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A stone (probably a lower stone) from a Roman rotary quern. The stone is circular in plan and has, at its centre, a circular spindle hole measuring 32mm in diameter by 50mm deep. The upper surface has a gentle downwards slope, the outer edges are vertical, while the underside is flat and has not been finished to the same degree as the other surfaces. The stone is an unidentified gritstone of probable non-local origin. Overall, the object measures approximately 350mm in diameter and 90mm high. The weight is estimated to be approximately 15kg.
Created on: Saturday 22nd January 2011
Last updated: Saturday 22nd January 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Maulden', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-B05291
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Central Bedfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a rotary quernstone of Roman (probably mid 1st to mid 2nd century) date. This piece represents part (approximately one quarter) of a hemispherical lower stone from a 'beehive' quern. The quern is made of puddingstone - a conglomerate containing rounded pebbles of various sizes set within a quartzite matrix - of probable East Hertfordshire origin. The surfaces are heavily pitted as a result of working. At the centre of the upper surface is a surviving portion of the hole into which the spindle would have fitted. The radius of the stone is approximately 120mm an…
Created on: Saturday 22nd January 2011
Last updated: Saturday 22nd January 2011
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Maulden', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-22EDB6
Object type: QUERN
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Bedford
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a rotary quernstone. The piece represents part of the outer edge of a circular quernstone. The remaining curvature suggests that this is from a hand-operated quern of between 0.5m and 1m diameter. A portion of the flat grinding surface remains at the top; the underside is irregular and may be damaged. The material employed is a coarse-grained gritstone in which occasional gravel-sized particles are contained within a sandy matrix. This stone is not found locally and has probably been imported from elsewhere in the country. The fragment measures up to 38.5mm wi…
Created on: Friday 10th December 2010
Last updated: Friday 10th December 2010
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'North Bedfordshire', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: BH-1E8048
Object type: TILE
Broad period: UNKNOWN
County: Bedford
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A fragment of a limestone roof tile of Medieval to modern date. The piece is irregular but probably retains it's horizontal back edge. A short distance in from this edge is a drilled circular hole. The piece measures 63.8mm wide, 41.6mm high and 11.4mm thick. It weighs 33.59g.
Created on: Tuesday 30th March 2010
Last updated: Tuesday 30th March 2010
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Sharnbrook', grid reference and parish protected.