MACE

Cast cu-alloy complete mace head (ecclesiastical staff fitting) dating from the 12th-14th century AD. The item is a complete knopped mace head with both shank and head intact. The mace is square in cross-section and it has a central hole. The shank is tubular in shape with two opposing rivet holes at the lower end. These would have held the rivet(s) for attaching the mace head to a staff.The head shows has six pyramidal knobs in rows, whole knops decorate the central band, with half knops on the top and bottom filling in the gaps. The knobs are all very worn and slightly mis-shapen, which may suggest that it was used as a weapon at one time. There is a greenish patina over most of the surface.

Other examples are recorded on the Portable Antiquities Schemes database, many of which are from the East Midlands, particularly Lincolnshire. Their exact function is not known, and it has been suggested that they are ecclesiastical staff fittings rather than offensive weapons (Adam Daubney, (pers comm.). Daubney states that it is interesting that this is from Bridlington (i.e. on the coast). A significant number of these finds are from coastal counties and around major inlets. This is similar to an example from Fiskerton, Lincolnshire, in being fairly squat (see Medieval Archaeology, 2005, p336, fig 5b). There are elaborate examples from Ireland and Scandinavia that suggest a function other than warfare (eg ecclesiastical), however England has only ever produced these undecorated examples so far. The dating of these items is still problematic, though a general late 12th - 14th Century has been applied.