Rights Holder: Gwynedd Archaeological Trust
CC License:
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Unique ID: GAT-1B56DF
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
One piece cast copper alloy crotal bell with pea intact. The metal is a dark greyish green with patches of lighter green indicating Verdigris. There is a significant patch of iron oxide staining around one of the bottom sound holes. The suspension lug is of the 'integrally cast' variety and is rectangular with an oval hole. The upper dome of the bell is slightly smaller than the lower dome and has two round perforations midway, one on each side opposite the suspension lug face. There is a pronounced mid rib with no sign of soldering or joining. The lower dome has two round opposed holes just below the mid rib joined by a narrow slot. Decoration is reasonable clear on both domes though worn in places and takes the form of the usual 'sunburst' or more accurately 'sunflower' design. This takes the form of a number of elongated ovoid petals radiating from the centre of each hemisphere. The object was found in the same field as a perforated copper alloy decorative mount dated early medieval.
Discussion:
One piece cast bells date from the 16th century onwards and can only be differentiated by other details and decoration. The earliest bells of this type had a drilled lug. As this example has a cast suspension loop it is of a later date. These loops generally became much larger and angular in the 18-19th centuries, suggesting a 17th century date for this object. (Blunt, R., Crotal Bells (PAS internal article)
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Quantity: 1
Length: 39.82 mm
Width: 31.74 mm
Weight: 33.9 g
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Other reference: PAS2011-21-001
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: TL7727
Four figure Latitude: 51.91340154
Four figure longitude: 0.57203553
1:25K map: TL7727
1:10K map: TL72NE
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.