BODKIN

This type of object is now generally recognised as a bodkin of seventeenth-century date. Similar finds from have been made at Clavering, Essex (Treasure Annual Report 2004, no. 245), Chilcomb, Hampshire (Treasure Annual Report 2004, no. 246), Hougham, Kent (Treasure Annual Report 2004, no. 247), and Mattishall, Norfolk (Treasure Annual Report 2004, no. 248); Buckingham, Buckinghamshire (Treasure Annual Report 2006, no. 575), Ivinghoe area, Buckinghamshire (Treasure Annual Report 2006, no. 576), Newent, Gloucestershire (Treasure Annual Report 2006, no. 277), Redbourn, Hertfordshire (Treasure Annual Report 2006, no. 578) and Heckington, Lincolnshire (Treasure Annual Report 2006, no. 579). These have all been dated to the seventeenth century.

Bodkins of this type were popular in the Low Countries, and appear in household inventories as well as on female portraits (eg Baart et al 1977, 217-9, where they are dated to the early seventeenth century). Examples in Britain have not been restricted to Norfolk and Suffolk, examples being reported from across England from Gloucestershire (Treasure Annual Report 2006, no. 577) up to Lincolnshire (Treasure Annual Report 2006, no. 579).

It is my opinion that as an object which has at least 10 per cent by weight precious metal, and which is at least 300 years old, it is treasure under Section 1 (1) (a) of the Treasure Act 1996.