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SADDLE
Unique ID: LANCUM-CE4675
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Cast copper alloy one-piece decorative saddle pommel. Most of the saddle pommel remains with only part of one wing missing. There were two wings - one at either side with rivet holes in them to attach the pommel to the saddle. There are bands of engraved linear decoration running along the length of the pommel at a diagonal from the pointed end of the pommel, where there is a protruding knop, to the engraved band crossing the width of the pommel at the opposite end, just before the rivet hole, and to the engraved border line at the base of the pommel.
The pommel would have been riveted onto a wooden protrusion on the front of the frame of the saddle, to which the reins could then be secured. Saddles were wooden framed and leather clad at this time in order to support a man in full armour. Fragments of rivets (iron) and leather were found with the saddle pommel (see image).
Read (1995) illustrates a similar example on p.128, No.809, which he dates to the 16th or 17th centuries.
Class: pommel
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 69 mm
Height: 37 mm
Width: 60 mm
Thickness: 1.5 mm
Weight: 100 g
Diameter: 37 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 9th February 2010
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Iron
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: North West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Cumbria (County)
District: Eden (District)
To be known as: Alston
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: Centred on parish
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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