SEAL

An incomplete cast lead alloy object forming one half of a lead food seal. The terminal is flat and disc-shaped in form. Extending from the base of the terminal is an integral lead shaft that is oval shaped in section and terminates in old breaks at the base of the terminal. Both faces of the terminal are decorated with a moulded legend that is the same on both sides. This begins with a star at the top middle and is written in Hebrew, although precisely what the legend reads remains uncertain. The entire object measures 16.22mm in diameter, 2.39mm in thickness, and weighs 3.36g.

This object is half of a kosher seal used by the Jewish community to label meat that had been prepared according to legal requirements (Geoff Egan, pers. comm.). Three identical seals have previously been recorded from Suffolk (SF-6E1E15, SF-1A2781 and SF-716D675) and were identified by Geoff Egan. If the legend can be translated it should date the seal based on the names of the Beth Din that it gives. A similar kosher food seal is noted by Egan in the British Museum with a possible date in the 17th to 18th centuries AD (Egan, 1995: no. 356). Geoff Egan (PAS Finds Advisor, pers.comm.) suggested a date in the 19th century for the previous examples and it is therefore probable that the current example is of similar date.