Rights Holder: Lincolnshire County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: LIN-A542BE
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
A large, complete copper-alloy key of Middle Saxon date, probably 9th century. The key has a pointed oval bow, measuring 38mm in width and 58mm in length. The bow is openwork, having four arms leading inward from the frame-edge to meet an openwork stepped cross in the centre. The external frame is rectangular in section and measures 5mm in width and 4mm in thickness. The internal arms, along with the frame of the stepped cross, are square in section, measuring 3mm by 3mm. The bow tapers to a partially hollowed stem. A small moulded collar decorates the point where the bow meets the stem. The stem is circular in section, with a diameter of 9mm and a length of 21mm (including the collar). The terminal is hollow, and this extends 6mm into the stem. A rectangular bit extends at a right angle from the stem, and terminates with two upward pointing teeth. The bit measures 21mm in length, and 9mm in height. The flat rectangular panel of the bit is 4mm in thickness, and contains two openwork panels. The first, closest to the stem, is a right angled cell, while that to the lower right is a simple rectangular cell.
The key has a brassy-brown patina, and is in excellent condition. Overall, it is 79mm in length, 38mm in width, 9mm in thickness, and has a weight of 44.6g.
Parallels for this type of key are well documented from sites of Middle Saxon date, including Staunch Meadow in Brandon, Suffolk (Tester et al 2014: pp.182-3, Plate 6.5, and discussion).
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Class: Winchester type 2
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 800
Date to: Circa AD 900
Quantity: 1
Length: 79 mm
Width: 38 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight: 44.6 g
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 25th March 2015 - Wednesday 25th March 2015
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Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tester, A., Anderson, S., Riddler, I. and Carr, R. | 2014 | Staunch Meadow, Brandon, Suffolk: a high status Middle Saxon settlement on the fen edge | Bury St Edmunds | Suffolk County Council |