Rights Holder: West Berkshire
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SEAL MATRIX

Unique ID: BERK-F047A6

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

Cast copper-alloy seal matrix of the Later Medieval period. The matrix is large, circular and flat with a semi-circular lug with hole for suspension on the reverse (adjacent to one edge). The front of the matrix is badly worn but it clearly held a central motif in a circle with a, now illegible, motto around the perimeter. Seal Matrices of this type are quite frequent finds although they are more commonly smaller and either pointed oval or conical in shape. Seal matrices were used for making impressions on wax seals in order to secure or authenticate the documents to which they were attached. The became very popular in the 1300s. Dated c.1300-1400 AD.

Subsequent actions

Current location of find: Returned to Landowners
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1400

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Thickness: 9.84 mm
Weight: 10.3 g
Diameter: 27.74 mm

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 1st September 2007

Personal details

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Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete

Spatial metadata

Region: South East (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Oxfordshire (County)
District: West Oxfordshire (District)
To be known as: Clanfield

Spatial coordinates

Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
Current location: Returned to Landowners
General landuse: Cultivated land
Specific landuse: Character undetermined

References cited

No references cited so far.

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: BERK
Created: 16 years ago
Updated: 13 years ago

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