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SPUR
Unique ID: WMID-DE00E4
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete cast copper alloy rowel spur, of Late Medieval to Late Post Medieval dating (15th to 20th Centuries AD).
The rowel is a five pointed star shape, with the spokes having a lozenge shaped cross section, due to the bevelled edges. The arms of the star shape are triangular in plan and 'D' shaped in cross section. Located between each arm is a vertical ridge in light relief. This decoration is seen on both faces of the object. At the centre of the object is a circular perforation. The rowel spur is a red to brown shiny colour, with an even surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in a loss of much of the original surface detail. The tips of two of the arms have also been slightly damaged.
Read (2001) illustrates a number of similar examples in Fig.42 on page 66. The rowel spurs of this style are considered to be Late Medieval to Early Post Medieval in dating (14th to 17th Centuries AD). One example is also dated as possibly dating up to the 20th century AD.
The rowel spur measures 43.49mm in length, 4.16 mm thick and 39.08 mm wide. It weighs 9.7 g.
Read, B., (2001) Metal artefacts of antiquity: A catalogue of small finds from specific areas of the United Kingdom Langport, Portcullis Publishing.
Class: rowel
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1900
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 43.49 mm
Width: 39.08 mm
Thickness: 4.16 mm
Weight: 9.7 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 18th February 2016 - Thursday 18th February 2016
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: West Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Staffordshire (County)
District: Staffordshire Moorlands (District)
Parish or ward: Leekfrith (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SJ9758
Four figure Latitude: 53.1191674
Four figure longitude: -2.04627829
1:25K map: SJ9758
1:10K map: SJ95NE
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| 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 | 60-61 | Fig.42 |
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