SOM-1FEE46: Iron Age or Roman Snaffle Bit Miniature Object

Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
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Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
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MINIATURE OBJECT

Unique ID: SOM-1FEE46

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

Half of a silvered cast copper alloy miniature snaffle bit of probable late Iron Age to early Roman date. The miniature bit measures 35.4mm by 27.8mm by 6.6mm and weighs 4.8g. It is broadly cross-shaped, with a small jump ring in a different cooper alloy which links to a perpendicular loop at the end of the shortest arm of the cross. At the opposite end there is a another slightly larger perpendicular loop. This would have linked with the other half of the bit, which would have been identical with the exception of the orientation of the corresponding loop. The terminals of the other two arms are slightly expanded and rounded. Each arm has a circular cross-section. A similar and more complete example from Barnetby Le Wold, North Lincolnshire, has been recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database (NLM1135). The snaffle bit with integral cheek pieces is an unusual type which was first used in the late Iron Age (pers. comm. Sally Worrell). There is, for example, a bit of this type from the Iron Age settlement and cemetery at Chassemy, Aisne (France).

Find of note status

This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.

Class: Snaffle Bit

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: IRON AGE
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: IRON AGE
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa 100 BC
Date to: Circa AD 100

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 35.4 mm
Width: 27.8 mm
Thickness: 6.6 mm
Weight: 4.8 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Monday 3rd December 2007

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: Entry 020172

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: White metal coated

Spatial metadata

Region: South West (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Dorset (County)
District: West Dorset (District)
To be known as: Bradford Peverell

Spatial coordinates

Grid reference source: Centred on village (which isn't a parish)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

References cited

No references cited so far.

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

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

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