Introduction Horseshoes are worthy of study because of the light they shed on metalling of roads and extent of horse transport. Changes in their form and approach to their attachment can, in a broad sense, illuminate changes in horse stature. Some of the horseshoes recorded also have the potential to shine a sidelight on animal care …more
Category: Post Medieval
AD 1500 – AD 1900
Pilgrim Badges
Introduction As souvenirs, proofs of pilgrimages and to evoke (the protection of) saints, medieval pilgrims purchased metal badges at shrine sites which were then worn, typically on hats. Other souvenirs included pendants, ampullae, bells and whistles. Pilgrim badges were imbued with religious power via contact with holy relics at the shrine, turning them into more …more
Toys (2001 guide)
Please note that this guide has not been fundamentally changed from the original print version of the Finds Recording Guide (Geake 2001), written when the database contained just 8,800 non-numismatic records. Introduction Follow the guidance given in Egan 1988. Don’t use the word ‘petronel’ as it isn’t specific enough. A separate guide may be consulted …more
Tokens
Introduction Tokens are metal discs which feature designs and often inscriptions, and which were intended for use either as symbols of receipt or debt for either goods or services, as passes, or in small transactions in times of shortage of small denominations in the currency. Being like a coin in terms of form and design, …more
Jew’s Harps
Introduction Jew’s harps are small musical instruments that are played by plucking a flexible tongue/reed with one’s fingers, the tongue attached to a frame held in one hand at one end and by the player’s teeth at the other. Though most jew’s harps are made of iron (Wardle in Egan 1998, 284), the majority of …more
Needle Holders
Introduction There is an enigmatic group of objects which look like enormous lace-tags, made of sheet metal with a soldered-on collar near the terminal which is often decorated to resemble the cup of an acorn. They tend to be about 5 mm in diameter at the attachment end, and can feature side loops for attaching …more
Apothecaries’ Weights
Introduction Apothecaries’ weights were used to weigh out ingredients in medicines and potions. The weight-system used was influenced by the Roman system, and the units were called scruples, drachms and ounces. There were three scruples to the drachm, and eight drachms to the ounce. Being generally small square or sub-square weights they can be confused …more
Candle holders
Introduction Candle-holders are lighting devices into which candles were fitted. They can be of many shapes, the main division being between the socket type (with a cup into which the candle was inserted) and the pricket type (with a spike onto which the candle was pushed). Sockets were certainly used by the Romans, but are …more
Tweezers (2001 guide)
Please note that this guide has not been fundamentally changed from the original print version of the Finds Recording Guide (Geake 2001), written when the database contained just 8,800 non-numismatic records. Introduction There are essentially three types of tweezers, all easy to recognise but hard to date. First there are those made from sheet, with …more
Forks
Introduction In England, people mostly ate using knives, fingers and spoons prior to the post-medieval period (Leahy and Lewis 2018, 180). Consequently, the PAS has not recorded many table forks; the majority are iron from the 17th century onwards, although a few copper-alloy early-medieval forks have been recorded. Post-medieval table forks had two prongs initially, …more