Rights Holder: Suffolk County Council
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Unique ID: SF-84D6CD
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
A complete cast copper-alloy tumbler-lock slide key dating to the Roman period, c. 43-410 AD. It has a semi-circular bow with an internal large semi-circular aperture demonstrating an additional rectangular notch in its bottom edge, which transitions into a trapezoidal rectanguilar-sectioned upper handle demarcated by a single prominent transverse collar at its upper and lower edge respectively. Below this, the hollow circular-sectioned shaft of the key extends, with a rectangular bit demonstrating two notches at its outer edge projecting at a right angle just before the terminal of the shaft itself. Preserved in good condition with an even green patina, it measures 42.83mm long, 19.71mm wide at the widest point of the handle, 3.02mm thick at the midpoint of the handle, 4.31mm thick at the midpoint of the shank and 13.77mm wide where the ward joins the shaft. It weighs 6.89g.
A number of similar keys have been recorded on the PAS database (see CAM-6710A2, BH-1CB5C3, NARC-4BD096 and 5BF6C3) which are all assigned a generic Roman date.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 43
Date to: Circa AD 410
Quantity: 1
Length: 42.83 mm
Width: 19.71 mm
Thickness: 3.02 mm
Weight: 6.89 g
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 2nd March 2017
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Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.