SOM-088E52: Medieval scabbard chape

Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
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SCABBARD

Unique ID: SOM-088E52

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation Find 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 actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1100
Date to: Circa AD 1200

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 45.2 mm
Width: 13.5 mm
Thickness: 7.4 mm
Weight: 3.34 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Monday 17th January 2011

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: SCC 020770

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Iron
Decoration style: Linear
Completeness: Incomplete

Spatial metadata

Region: South West (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: South Somerset (District)
To be known as: Hinton St George

Spatial coordinates


Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land

References cited

Author Publication Year Title Publication Place Publisher Pages Reference
de Reuck, A. 1991 Dating Sword Chapes Privately circulated 12th century

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Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: SOM
Created: 13 years ago
Updated: 8 years ago

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