Rights Holder: St. Albans District Council
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Unique ID: BH-76A2D3
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Copper-alloy casting waste of probable Bronze Age date.
The artefact is sub-conical, its concave upper surface coated with an unidentified black substance. Below, the artefact tapers downwards, terminating in a short jet with rounded point. The piece measures 28.2mm long, 24.1mm wide and 14.5mm high. The weight is 21.5g.
Examples of similar casting jets have been found in hoards of Middle to Late Bronze Age metalwork (see, for example, 2006 T36, from Devon). Such pieces represent a plug of waste copper-alloy which is created when casting socketed implements, such as axes, in two-piece moulds.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: BRONZE AGE
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: BRONZE AGE
Date from: Circa 1500 BC
Date to: Circa 800 BC
Quantity: 1
Length: 28.2 mm
Height: 14.5 mm
Width: 24.1 mm
Weight: 21.5 g
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 29th May 2011
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Other reference: Ver 11/108 - 2
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Uncertain
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.