Rights Holder: Sussex Archaeological Society
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BRASS
Unique ID: SUSS-3BA9B2
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Complete cast copper alloy shield shaped item. It is flat with a plain back and no evidence of attachment method the front is moulded into an armorial design: Quarterly (metal) and (colour), in the 2nd and 3rd quarters a fret (metal), over all a bend (colour). It is 72.2mm long, 60.6mm wide and 2.0mm thick; it weighs 34.99 grams.
The original colours are unclear, the indented areas suggest the bend and 2nd and 3rd quarters were enamels with a colour while the fret and 1st and 4th quarters were either a golden brass colour or tinned to a silver colour. The third quarter appears fretty rather than only containing a single fret. Without the colours it is difficult to be definitive about the arms but they appear similar to those of the Despencer family.
The flat shield with no attachments appears similar to those inlaid in stone on funeral or other monuments. However preliminary research has not identified any link between the Despensers and this area so it may have been attached to a more portable item and lost when they, or one of their adherents were passing through.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1424
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 72.2 mm
Width: 60.6 mm
Thickness: 2 mm
Weight: 34.99 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 1st April 2009
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: West Sussex (County)
District: Arun (District)
To be known as: Near Middleton on Sea
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From finder
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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