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GAMING PIECE
Unique ID: SWYOR-4BAE58
Object type certainty: Possibly
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A cast lead artefact, possibly a gaming piece of Early Medieval date, about AD 870 - 950. It is pyramidical in form with four slightly concave sides rising from a flat sub-circular base to a blunt point at the apex. There are no markings. The artefact has a light grey patina. It is 17mm long, 15.3mm wide and 12.7mm high, It weighs 11.77g.
Compare SWYOR-8F29E6. Similar objects such as LEIC-F39697 and LIN-6BFDEB have been tentatively identified as Viking gaming pieces. This identification is more secure when the piece has a decorated top such as crenelations or a crown. Compare those published in Hadley and Richards (2018) In Search of the Viking Great Army in Medieval Settlement Research where it is argued that all the lead gaming pieces were made after the camp at Torksey in 872-3 and they do not appear to have been used in 10th century Anglo-Scandinavian deposits. This object could alternatively be casting waste, perhaps a well and runner from casting lead artefacts.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Scandinavian style
Date from: Circa AD 870
Date to: Circa AD 950
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 17 mm
Height: 12.7 mm
Width: 15.3 mm
Weight: 11.77 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 29th January 2020 - Wednesday 29th January 2020
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: PAS form number: 003793
Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber (European Region)County or Unitary authority: North Yorkshire (County)
District: Harrogate (District)
Parish or ward: Burton Leonard (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SE3264
Four figure Latitude: 54.07094553
Four figure longitude: -1.51249309
1:25K map: SE3264
1:10K map: SE36SW
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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