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PIN
Unique ID: BERK-B0F1B7
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
An incomplete copper alloy pin head of Middle to Late Iron Age date. The large globular mount is copper alloy and has three sub-rectangluar recessed cells around its girth and a rounded cell on its apex and underside. These cells are filled with a white coral (one cell is now missing its fill). Around each of these cells is simple incised decoration of a diagonal line which starts at the base of one cell are loops up and round the adjacent cell. This pattern is repeated around the girth of the mount while the cells at the top and bottom have a single incised line around them. The bottom of the mount has the remains of the iron shank, which is now corroded and no length of the shank survives.
Coral is found as decorative inserts on brooches dating from the Middle to Late Iron Age, although it is more common in brooches of the earlier period, c. 600-300 BC. Record LANCUM-E7297 is similar. DOR-B37E55 is another example of a similar object, which the recorded suggests may have been a head of a dress pin or perhaps a domed knop atttached to the foot of a La Tène I brooch. The iron shank on the example recorded herein suggests a Late Iron Age date however the coral and decoration a slightly earlier one. Comparisons are being sought. Suggested date; c. 400 BC - AD 43.
Find of note status
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: IRON AGE
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: IRON AGE
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: IRON AGE
Date from: Circa 400 BC
Date to: Circa AD 43
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Height: 17.9 mm
Weight: 12.4 g
Diameter: 16.3 mm
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: OXPAS2015.538
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Animal skeletal material
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Linear
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
District: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Wylye (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU0038
Four figure Latitude: 51.14126737
Four figure longitude: -2.00137918
1:25K map: SU0038
1:10K map: SU03NW
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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