Rights Holder: Sussex Archaeological Society
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Unique ID: PUBLIC-C43E3D
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
A terminal fragment from a copper-alloy rowel spur dating to the post-medieval period, c. 1600-1700. The fragment, which is D-shaped in cross-section, comprises around one half of one arm of the spur including its figure-of-eight shaped terminal. The latter possesses two small circular perforations, one of which still retains a studded and hooked mount which would have facilitated attachment to a leather strap (designed to secure the spur to the lower part of its boot), although part of the hook element is now misshapen due to post-depositional damage (being bent to one side). This mount has a lozengiform terminal which narrows towards two small decorative lateral knops located just above the attachment hook. A large rivet or stud is located at the lozengiform terminal. The other perforation of the spur's terminal would originally would have held a hooked asymmetrical buckle and hooked plate for attaching the spur to the upper surface of a boot.
The spur survives in good condition despite the damage it has suffered, with an even grey-green patina covering most of its surfaces. The spur arm measures 47.48mm long, 6.09mm wide at its midpoint, 13.76mm wide at its terminal end and 3.33mm thick at its midpoint. The hooked mount measures 26.33mm long, 8.12mm thick at its widest point (where the rivet protrudes), and 3.43mm wide at its midpoint. It weighs 10.8g overall
Spurs of this style generally date to the 17th century; a comparable example on the PAS database which demonstrates many similarities to this piece can be found in record LON-63444A, though this example is slightly more complete in that it retains its buckle in addition to its strap mount. Read (2001, 60, 65; no. 499) dates a similar example to after 1640.
Notes:
It can be noted that many examples of such spurs were simply worn on boots for show as an element of fashion within male dress styles and were not necessarily for practical use.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1640
Date to: Circa AD 1700
Quantity: 1
Length: 47.48 mm
Width: 6.09 mm
Thickness: 3.33 mm
Weight: 10.8 g
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 10th April 2016 - Sunday 10th April 2016
This object was found at SMDC - Hardham, West Sussex - 10th April 2016
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4 Figure: TQ0417
Four figure Latitude: 50.94307068
Four figure longitude: -0.52106927
1:25K map: TQ0417
1:10K map: TQ01NW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Read, B. | 2001 | Metal artefacts of antiquity: A catalogue of small finds from specific areas of the United Kingdom | Langport | Portcullis Publishing | 60, 65 | 499 |