Rights Holder: Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society
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SEAL MATRIX

Unique ID: WILT-3D5512

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

Late medieval copper alloy pointed-oval seal matrix depicting virgin and child. It measures 26x17mm and weighs 5.95g.
An incised line flanks the outside edge on the matrix face. The inscription reads *MATER DEI MEM(E)NTO MI (Mother of God Remember Me). At the centre is a robed figure with head bowed left, holding a baby left (presumably virgin and child) above a ?star.
On the reverse is a loop directly behind the * on the legend. It is 7mm long, 3mm wide and stands 4.5mm tall. The piercing is 2mm in diameter.
At the end opposite the loop, the matrix is 2mm thick. This gradually increases to 3mm at the opposite end, beside the loop. The loop appears to have been cut down from a rectangular projection, the remains of which are visible on the reverse.
13th century. Cf Cherry, J. (1991) Seal Matrices, in: Saunders, P. & E. (ed) Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue Part I, Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, Salisbury p.30 no.3.

Inscription: *MATER DEI MEM(E)NTO MI

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1201
Date to: Circa AD 1300

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 26 mm
Width: 17 mm
Weight: 5.95 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 28th April 2005

Personal details

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Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy

Spatial metadata

Region: South West (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
District: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Trowbridge (Civil Parish)

Spatial coordinates

4 Figure: ST8557
Four figure Latitude: 51.31191245
Four figure longitude: -2.21659303
1:25K map: ST8557
1:10K map: ST85NE
Grid reference source: Centred on parish
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land

References cited

Author	Publication Year	Title	Publication Place	Publisher	Pages	Reference
Saunders, P.	1991	Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue: Part 1	Salisbury	Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum	p.30	no.3

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: WILT
Created: 18 years ago
Updated: 9 years ago

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