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KEY (LOCKING)
Unique ID: IOW-193174
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An almost complete Medieval copper-alloy rotary key (c. 1200-c. 1500).
A small portion of the hollow end is missing.
The key has a lozenge-shaped openwork bow, a mainly solid shank and a complicated bit.
The bow, curved internally and externally, is flat on each face. On each face it is decorated with deep grooves roughly following the outline. These grooves appear to be worn. Between the bow and shank there is a double parallel collar. The closer collar to the bow is not very distinct. The shank flares in depth (but not in thickness) from the collar to the end where it is hollow to a depth of 6.5mm. The shank is flat at the top and bottom. The flat bottom is chamfered along the edges. The complicate bit has double wards and clefts and the wards are grooved on either side.
This key has a shiny mid to dark green patina with small areas of bright green active corrosion. The bow is very worn.
Length: 108.5mm; width: 35.0mm; thickness: 9.7mm. Weight: 67.48g.
Length of shank from collar: 63.8mm; maximum height of shank: c.9.0mm; maximum width of shank: 9.6mm.
Bow: length from collar: 41.6mm; width: 35.1mm; thickness: 6.6mm
Bit: length: 28.9mm; depth from below the shank: 16.1mm; width: 9.7mm.
Find of note status
This is a find of note and has been designated: County / local importance
Class: London type VI
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: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1500
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 108.5 mm
Width: 35 mm
Thickness: 9.7 mm
Weight: 67.48 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 8th March 2015 - Sunday 8th March 2015
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: IOW2015-2-157
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
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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