BH-1F16FA: Medieval seal matrix (fragment)

Rights Holder: St. Albans District Council
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SEAL MATRIX

Unique ID: BH-1F16FA

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation Find awaiting validation

A fragment of a lead-alloy personal seal matrix, dating from the Medieval period.

The piece is irregular, but the curvature of the intact side suggests this is part of an originally circular matrix. An unsuccessful attempt was made to read the engraved circumferential legend, and the nature of the central design is also unclear. On the reverse, a rim extends around the edge.

Length: 26.5mm; width: 11.4mm; thickness: 3.6mm. Weight: 4.18g.

Personal seal matrices of this form became popular in the late 12th century and continued to be used well into the 13th (Harvey and McGuinness 1996: 79).

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1150
Date to: Circa AD 1300

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 26.5 mm
Width: 11.4 mm
Thickness: 3.6 mm
Weight: 4.18 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 1st July 2015

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: Ver 15/91 - 4

Materials and construction

Primary material: Lead Alloy
Completeness: Fragment

Spatial metadata

Region: Eastern (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Hertfordshire (County)
District: St. Albans (District)
To be known as: St. Michael

Spatial coordinates


Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Woodland

References cited

Author Publication Year Title Publication Place Publisher Pages Reference
Harvey, P.D.A. and McGuinness, A. 1996 A Guide to British Medieval Seals London British Library and Public Record Office

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Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: BH
Created: 8 years ago
Updated: 8 years ago

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