Rights Holder: North Lincolnshire Museum
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Unique ID: NLM-6A1A61
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Lead possible weight. Cast plano-convex or conical object with an off-centre (at the top, though not at the base) moulded longitudinal aperture of diameter 3.3mm. A circular groove in the flat face may arise from the cooling of the object in an open mould. The object is patinated overall.
The mass may relate this to Viking systems of measurement for bullion: a Dublin standard based on a module of 4.43gms or a Scandinavian system using a module of 4.07gms. In either case, just under 8 units would be represented, though the hole would permit adjustment to either srtandard by the insertion of a further small weight. Similarly shaped objects are identified as weights at Flixborough, North Lincolnshire (Evans and Loveluck 2009, page 422, fig. 13.3 nos 3279-3282), where a Middle Saxon or Anglo-Scandinavian origin is considered. Such weights share their conical form with playing pieces for Hnafetafl, a contemporary board game, in which case the aperture might hold a wooden peg to fit in a perforated game board. Against this, David Haldenby kindly notes that Viking Age weights are not usually perforated (pers. comm., citing Haldenby, D. and Richards, J.D. 2016, Internet Archaeology no. 42). Suggested date: Unknown, Early Medieval to Medieval, 800-1500.
Diameter: 19.9mm, Height: 18.6mm, Weight: 34.13gms.
Notes:
The subject of Viking Age metrology is discussed for Flixborough, North Lincolnshire by Wastling 2009 (Wastling, L.M., 'Lead and lead alloy mensuration weights', in Evans, D.H. and Loveluck, C., Life and Economy at Early Flixborough c.AD600-1000, Excavations at Flixborough volume 2, Oxbow, Oxford and Oakville, pages 422-424). Wastling draws on Wallace 1987 for weights from Dublin using a module of 4.43gms (Wallace, P.F. 'The Economy and Commerce of Viking Age Dublin', in K. Duwel et al, Untersuchengen zu Handel und Verkher der vor- und fruhgeschichtlichen Zeit in Mittel- und Nordeuropoa, Teil IV. Der Handel der Karolingerund Wikingerzeit, Gottingen, and on Kruse (1988, 1992) for weights of a more general Scandinavian currency using a module of 4.07gms (Kruse, S. 1988, 'Ingots and Weights in Viking Age Silver Hoards', World Archaeology 20, 265-381; Kruse, S. 1992, 'Late Saxon Balances and Weights from England', Medieval Archaeology 36, 67-95. Kruse bases calculations on Nielsen 1983, on Hedeby, to arrive at the figure of 4.07gms (Nielsen, H-O, 1983, 'Rontgenologische und metrische Untersuchungen an zwei Kugel-Gewichtssatzen aus Haithabu', Berichte uber die Ausgrabungen in Haithabu 18, 109-120, Neumunster. These details were requested by Helen Geake, though this reporter regrets his lack of facility with the imposition of appropriate accents for the Continental sources cited by Wastling. These appear in their proper form in the bibliography of the Flixborough volume.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: UNKNOWN
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 850
Date to: Circa AD 1500
Quantity: 1
Height: 18.6 mm
Weight: 34.13 g
Diameter: 19.9 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 19th September 2013
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Other reference: NLM23554a
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: SK8897
Four figure Latitude: 53.462404
Four figure longitude: -0.67599518
1:25K map: SK8897
1:10K map: SK89NE
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.