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CLOTH SEAL
Unique ID: SOM-AFA0EC
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A Post Medieval lead alloy cloth seal probably dating to c. AD 1550 - 1800. The seal consisted of two discs joined by a connecting strip. Only part of one disc survives with an integral rivet on the back which would have been pushed through a central hole on the other and stamped flat. A partial privy or merchant's mark is visible on the obverse, with a number 4 with an elongated down stroke probably ending in an elaboration or intials, now lost. The reverse is plain. On both faces of the seal an imprint of the fabric it was presumably attached to can be seen. This appears to have been a plain weave, with between 32 and 36 threads per inch. The seal measures 17.5mm in length, 11.9mm in width, 3.5mm in thickness and weighs 2.69g.
This was probably a cloth seal used by a weaver, dyer or searcher. The use of a privy or merchants mark suggests a broad late 16th to 18th century date. A number of comparable seals are published by Egan (1994: 181-183), although no exact parallels were found.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1550
Date to: Circa AD 1800
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 17.5 mm
Width: 11.9 mm
Thickness: 3.5 mm
Weight: 2.69 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st September 2016 - Tuesday 21st February 2017
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: SCC receipt 17341
Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Fragment
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: South Somerset (District)
To be known as: Whitelackington CP
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egan, G. | 1994 | Lead cloth seals and related items in the British Museum | London | Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities, British Museum |
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Timeline of associated dates
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