WEIGHT

A possible lead weight of possible Early Medieval date, about AD 800 - 1000. The possible weight is sub-spherical and poorly cast, the two hemispheres being clearly badly aligned when moulded. There are also concavities in the line of the casting seam, suggesting the lead was over heated when used. Two opposing faces of the weight are flattened and slightly recessed. The patina is also abraded on these facets. One facet has a stright line moulded across it, and possible other markings, but it is not certain that these are intentional. The object is 12.6mm diameter, 10.2mm thick and has a mass of 8.84g.

Viking and Anglo-Saxon weighing systems are complex and debated, with many weight standards having been suggested over the years. Viking ounces (ore) of 24.59g seem to have been sub-divided into three units (ertogs) (Brogger 1921 cited in Haldenby and Kershaw, 2014). A different unit of 26.6g is observed in weights from Dublin (Wallace, 1987, ibid). 8.84g, the mass of this possible weight, can be seen as a third (ertog) of the Dublin standard (8.84g x 3 = 26.52g). The existance of spherical and sub-spherical weights is also noted at Coppergate and elsewhere (Haldenby and Kershaw, 2014). Because this object fits into one suggested weighing system, and because spherical weights are known, this interpretation is offered here.

However, the picture is complicated because the object could also be identified as a Post Medieval musket ball which has been badly cast, and perhaps used as buckshot, compaction in the multi-ball load causing the facets seen on the object. At 8.84g, it fits into the range used as pistol balls, and being badly made, could easily have been rejected as a pistol ball and used as buckshot. Other pieces of spherical ammunition and impacted musket balls have been recovered from the same general area, so this remains a possibility too and would suggest a date of AD 1600 - 1800.