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TAP
Unique ID: PUBLIC-B94B94
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete, cast copper-alloy barrel tap with a broken handle which would have attached to the stem. The stem is slotted into a cylindrical socket. This turns within the socket, opening and closing a valve to allow the liquid to flow through an opening to the spout. The tap has a circular sectioned pipe which tapers towards the end for fitting into a barrel. The end of the pipe is open but may have been sealed off in use. Close to the open end are four longitudinal rows of four holes to restrict the flow of liquid. The entire pipe is covered with fine parallel longitudinal striations and ridges to help to hold it in the barrel. From the end of the pipe the tap expands into a cylindrical socket preceding the spout. The spout is circular in section and curves downwards to allow the flow of liquid. A flat-ended rectangular projection extends from a shouldered reinforcement around the outer curve of the spout, which would receive the blows of a mallet when the tap was driven into the barrel and would also serve to hang a vessel being filled, by its handle.
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 1750
Date to: Circa AD 1800
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 140.97 mm
Height: 65.69 mm
Width: 21.23 mm
Weight: 208 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 22nd August 2014
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: East Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Lincolnshire (County)
District: East Lindsey (District)
To be known as: South Elkington
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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