LON-90EB7A: A post medieval lead alloy perforated disc, probably used as a crude sundial or compass dating AD16th - 18th century.

Rights Holder: Museum of London
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COMPASS

Unique ID: LON-90EB7A

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

A post medieval lead alloy compass card dating AD16th - 18th century. This object is a disc with a circular central perforation for the pivot for the compass needle. On the upper surface there are four concentric rings, at different spacings. The north point is marked by a stylised fleur-de-lis engraved across the two outermost rings. The other Cardinal points are marked by triangular arrows and their halves are marked by simple lines. On the opposite surface there are 5 almost equally spaced concentric rings but no further markings.

Other fragments of compasses are recorded on the PAS database but they are copper alloy not lead alloy e.g. HAMP-A9E6F1, SWYOR-6FA956.

Dimensions: diameter: 69.75mm; thickness: 1.79mm; weight: 46.69g.

Identification by John Davis of the British Sundial Society.

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1800

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Thickness: 1.79 mm
Weight: 46.69 g
Diameter: 69.75 mm

Personal details

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Materials and construction

Primary material: Lead Alloy
Completeness: Incomplete

Spatial metadata

Region: London (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Greater London Authority (Greater London Authority)
District: Tower Hamlets (London Borough)
Parish or ward: St. Katharine's and Wapping (London Borough Ward)

Spatial coordinates

4 Figure: TQ3480
Four figure Latitude: 51.50305749
Four figure longitude: -0.07075664
1:25K map: TQ3480
1:10K map: TQ38SW
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Open fresh water
Specific landuse: Running water

References cited

No references cited so far.

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: LON
Created: 7 years ago
Updated: 7 years ago

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