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SWORD
Unique ID: KENT-3AC1C5
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Fragment of a gilded silver sword pommel. The fragment is from one end of the side face of a sword pommel; length, 18.23mm. It weighs 1.72g and surface metal analysis indicates a silver content of 97%. It is decorated with a trapezoidal panel containing a claw-like Style I motif inside borders of nielloed black triangles. There are also parts of a basal row of pellets and a second panel of ornament. In the corner at the end is the head of a small, dome-headed rivet. The fragmentary nature of the pommel makes certain identification difficult, but it is probably an example of Menghin's common, Kentish, Bifrons-Gilton type, rather than of his closely related Beckum-Vallstenarum type (W. Menghin, 1983, Das Schwert im Frühen Mittelalter, Stuttgart, pp. 67 and 312-7, Maps 2-3). The Bifrons-Gilton type occurs also sporadically in northern France, south-west Germany and Scandinavia, and dates to the 6th century AD.
Notes:
Treasure case 2006 T79. Report by Barry Ager.
Class: Pommel
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Maidstone Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2006T79
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 500
Date to: Circa AD 700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 18.23 mm
Width: 10.52 mm
Thickness: 4.07 mm
Weight: 1.72 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 16th October 2005
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: 2006 T79
Treasure case number: 2006T79
Materials and construction
Primary material: Silver
Completeness: Fragment
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Folkestone and Hythe (District)
To be known as: Lyminge
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menghin, W. | 1983 | Das Schwert im frühen Mittelalter: Chronologisch-typologische Untersuchungen zu Langschwertern aus germanischen Gräbern des 5. bis 7. Jahrhunderts n. ... Anzeiger des Germanischen Nationalmuseums) | Stuttgart | Thiess | 67, 312-7 |
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CURATOR'S REPORT
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Angela Evans of the British Museum provided the following report.
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Timeline of associated dates
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