Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
CHAIN
Unique ID: SOM-4AABED
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Copper alloy figure of eight, probably a chain link, possibly Early Medieval. The piece is complete with two loops with rounded outer sides narrowing to points where they meet and cross in the centre. Each loop is circular in cross section. There appear to be slight unfettled casting flashes on the inner side of each loop at the point, suggesting they were cast. On one face the crossing point of the loops is flat while on the other one line of the crossover is slightly raised over the other. The loops are not noticeably worn. The entire piece is 18.2mm long, 7.4mm wide and 2.2mm thick, it weighs 1.06 grams.
Identical seeming links are recorded on the database from Norfolk, including NMS-5797E7, NMS-FDD8D1 and NMS-829655 and reference an example from a work box from Didcot Grave 12 (Oxfordshire) dated to c.AD 650-700 (Boyle, Dodd, Miles and Mudd 1995, 216, 253, fig. 97).
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 650
Date to: Circa AD 700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 18.2 mm
Width: 7.4 mm
Thickness: 2.2 mm
Weight: 1.06 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 13th September 2014 - Saturday 13th September 2014
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: SCC receipt 17042, finders ref JP 13
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
District: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: West Knoyle CP
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyle, A., Dodd, A., Miles, D. and Mudd, A. | 1995 | Two Anglo-Saxon cemeteries: Berinsfield & Didcot | Oxford | Oxford Archaeological Unit |
Similar objects
Find number: IOW-E9D174
Object type: CHAIN
Broadperiod: ROMAN
A complete probable Roman or Early-Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) copper-alloy figure-of-eight probable chain link (c. AD 43-c. 700).
The piece is…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SWYOR-1E9406
Object type: CHAIN
Broadperiod: UNKNOWN
A link from a copper alloy chain of unknown date, probably Roman to Medieval, about AD 43 - 1200. It is in the form of a figure of eight with…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: NMS-5797E7
Object type: CHAIN
Broadperiod: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Middle Saxon copper alloy chain link, cast in the form of a figure-of-eight. The terminals of both loops have much internal wear. Length 20mm.…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618