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KEY (LOCKING)
Unique ID: IOW-F93214
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete Medieval copper-alloy rotary key (1150-1400).
This key consists of three elements, the bow or handle, shank and bit.
The bow is circular in plan, bevelled on the inside and flat on both faces. It has a diameter of 16.11mm and is 3.06mm thick. There is no collar between the bow and the shank. The shank, which does not project beyond the end of the bit, is hollow and is circular in cross-section with an outer diameter of 5.75mm. From the open end of the shank it is hollow to a depth of c. 11.60mm. The bit (7.50 x 7.15 x 2.74mm) is sub-rectangular and has horizontal clefts, two at the front and one at the rear.
This key has a patchy green patina with small areas of corrosion
Length: 37.44mm; width: 16.11mm; thickness: 5.75mm. Weight: 5.89g.
A discussion and illustrations of Medieval rotary keys can be found in Egan 1998: 110-118.
Egan, G. 1998. The Medieval Household Daily Living c.1150-c.1450. Medieval finds from Excavations in London 6. London. Museum of London: The Stationery Office.
Class: Rotary
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Exactly AD 1150
Date to: Exactly AD 1400
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 37.44 mm
Width: 16.11 mm
Thickness: 5.75 mm
Weight: 5.89 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 12th January 2014
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: IOW2014-2-127
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
District: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Isle of Wight
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egan, G. | 1998 | The Medieval Household: Daily Living c.1150-c.1450 (Medieval Finds from Excavations in London) | London | The Stationery Office | 110-118 |
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Timeline of associated dates
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