Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: SOM-088E52
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Medieval copper-alloy scabbard chape. The chape is thin, either sheet or cast. The lower part is triangular in plan and semi-circular in section with a convex front, like half a cone. It is decorated on the front with an incised trnasverse line just below the top from which parallel vertical incised lines run down towards the point. The back edges of this section are curved with the point bent backwards slightly, it is not clear if this is original or a result of damage. From the upper edge of this lower section projects two arms, one to each side. The arms are strips which widen slightly towards the top where they end in a rounded terminal, slight nicks on the inner side of the arms emphasies the separation of the terminals from the arms. Each terminal has the corroded remains of an iron rivet through it. The iron corrosion may obscure a second rivet half way down one arm. It is 45.2mm long, 13.5mm wide and 7.4mm thick, the sides are 1.0mm thick; it weighs 3.34 grams.
De Reuck (1991) illustrates a very similar example (12th century page, middle of top row) which he dates to the 12th century.
Class: chape
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1100
Date to: Circa AD 1200
Quantity: 1
Length: 45.2 mm
Width: 13.5 mm
Thickness: 7.4 mm
Weight: 3.34 g
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 17th January 2011
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Other reference: SCC 020770
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Iron
Decoration style: Linear
Completeness: Incomplete
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
de Reuck, A. | 1991 | Dating Sword Chapes | Privately circulated | 12th century |