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SEAL BOX
Unique ID: LVPL-F22EB8
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A cast copper-alloy seal box lid of Roman date. The object is leaf shaped in plan and flat. The upper face of the lid is separated into three cells. At the wider end of the object is a pelta shaped cell within which are fragments of red enamel. The two remaining cells are sub-oval running either side of the central arm of the pelta. Each of which are in-filled with a mid-green enamel. The object terminates with a collared rounded projection. The hinge is missing. The rear of the object is undecorated however horizontal striations are visible. It has a dark blackish brown patina and is in good condition.
The object falls into Crummy's Type 4, Leaf-shaped, seal boxes with leaf-shaped form and enamelled lids (Crummy, 1983: pp. 103-104). It is of probable 2nd to 3rd century AD date. A complete example which can be found on the database is Brown, A (2013) SF-4729B0 A ROMAN SEAL BOX Webpage available at: http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/552801.
Seal boxes were used in the Roman period to protect wax through which binding from a tablet or package was held in place (Crummy, N. 1983 Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small Finds from Excavations in Colchester 1971-1979 Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd, p. 103).
Class: Crummy's Type 4
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 100
Date to: Circa AD 300
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 29.85 mm
Width: 20.41 mm
Thickness: 1.72 mm
Weight: 3.9 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st September 2014
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Enamel
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with enamel
Spatial metadata
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber (European Region)County or Unitary authority: North Yorkshire (County)
District: Scarborough (District)
To be known as: Snainton
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crummy, N. | 1983 | Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds from excavations in Colchester, 1971-9 | Colchester | Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd |
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Timeline of associated dates
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