Rights Holder: Hampshire Cultural Trust
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Unique ID: HAMP-85DB0E
Object type certainty: Certain
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status: Published
A copper alloy vase-headed linch pin terminal of later Iron Age to Roman date (c.100 BC - AD 100), with traces of the corroded iron shank remaining.
The object has a flattened disc-shaped terminal, flat in cross-section and with worn edges to give it a now rather misshapen appearance. Two opposing 'edges' of the circle are rather heavily worn into diagonal straight lines. It now measures 26.3x24.7x5.6mm, and presumably had an original diameter of c.26mm.
Below the terminal is a short neck, 11.9mm in diameter and 2.9mm tall. Being protected by the terminal above and vase-shaped element below, the patina is a very shiny and smooth blue-green in colour.
The vase-shaped element is roughly two-thirds of a sphere, max.21.3mm in diameter and c.16mm tall. It has a circular perforation 6.3mm in diameter from one side to that diametrically opposite. It sits on a base 19.0mm in diameter and 2.5mm thick. From the underside of this base the corroded remains of the iron shank project, spreading upwards onto the vase-shaped element to one side. Where the original patina remains, it is green, smooth and shiny. However much of the surface of the object is suffering from a loss of patina and shows a lighter greeny-blue, rough surface.
Cf. a complete example of a vase-headed linch pin on this database SF-1007C4 of which the author writes 'Iron Age linch pins have been recorded from a number of locations within Britain and appear to have a relatively long life span. Unfortunately, they are not easily datable, with the vase-headed type apparent in middle and late Iron Age contexts spanning the third century BC to the first century AD (see Hutcheson, 2004: pp. 31-32; Macgregor, 1976: pp. 49-50; Stead, 1991: pp. 44-47).'
Of another vase-headed linch pin terminal, LEIC-568011, Sally Worrell comments that although they are known to date from the 4th century BC to 1st century AD, a narrower 100 BC-AD 100 date is more likely.
The object measures 29.5mm in max.length, 26.3mm in max.width, 24.7mm in max.depth and weighs 50.27g.
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Class: Vase-headed
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: IRON AGE
Period from: IRON AGE
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa 100 BC
Date to: Circa AD 100
Quantity: 1
Length: 29.5 mm
Width: 26.3 mm
Thickness: 24.7 mm
Weight: 50.27 g
Diameter: 26.3 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 15th September 2015 - Tuesday 15th December 2015
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Other reference: Hampshire Cultural Trust Entry Form WINCM 181
Primary material: Copper alloy
Secondary material: Iron
Completeness: Fragment
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.