Rights Holder: North Lincolnshire Museum
CC License:
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Unique ID: NLM-03F6BB
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Lead weight. Cast flat weight in the form of a square with indented sides. Each sunken side has a central oval-ended panel, and it is possible that these may formerly have retained inset objects, though if so, they have been lost in antiquity. There are also four small lentoid slashes on one side, each mark positioned close to a corner and set as if radiating from the centre. Patinated overall. The mass may suggest this to represent six units of 4.07gms, as used in Viking Age Scandinavia for bullion transactions. This mass is also close to one ore or ora, a measure denoting a short-weight ounce in other systems of measurement. If this suggestion is sustained, it would follow that the form and surface decoration may be intended to distinguish this weight from others, rather than alluding to its value. Suggested date: Early Medieval, 850-950.
Length: 22.1mm, Width: 20.7mm, Thickness: 6.8mm, Weight: 24.89gms.
Notes:
The subject of Viking Age metrology is discussed for Flixborough, North Lincolnshire by Wastling 2009 (Wastling, L.M., 'Lead and lead alloy mensuration weights', in Evans, D.H. and Loveluck, C., Life and Economy at Early Flixborough c.AD600-1000, Excavations at Flixborough volume 2, Oxbow, Oxford and Oakville, pages 422-424). Wastling draws on Wallace 1987 for weights from Dublin using a module of 4.43gms (Wallace, P.F. 'The Economy and Commerce of Viking Age Dublin', in K. Duwel et al, Untersuchengen zu Handel und Verkher der vor- und fruhgeschichtlichen Zeit in Mittel- und Nordeuropoa, Teil IV. Der Handel der Karolingerund Wikingerzeit, Gottingen), and on Kruse (1988, 1992) for weights of a more general Scandinavian currency using a module of 4.07gms (Kruse, S. 1988, 'Ingots and Weights in Viking Age Silver Hoards', World Archaeology 20, 265-381; Kruse, S. 1992, 'Late Saxon Balances and Weights from England', Medieval Archaeology 36, 67-95). Kruse bases calculations on Nielsen 1983, on Hedeby, to arrive at the figure of 4.07gms (Nielsen, H-O, 1983, 'Rontgenologische und metrische Untersuchungen an zwei Kugel-Gewichtssatzen aus Haithabu', Berichte uber die Ausgrabungen in Haithabu 18, 109-120, Neumunster). These details were requested by Helen Geake, though this reporter regrets his lack of facility with the imposition of appropriate accents for the Continental sources cited by Wastling. These appear in their proper form in the bibliography of the Flixborough volume.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Viking style
Date from: Circa AD 850
Date to: Circa AD 950
Quantity: 1
Length: 22.1 mm
Width: 20.7 mm
Thickness: 6.8 mm
Weight: 24.89 g
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 12th July 2015
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Other reference: NLM29773
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.