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Unique ID: NMS-CA04C0
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Two medieval to post-medieval writing leads, both round-sectioned, diameters 5.3mm, and trimmed to a point, lengths 39.5 and c.55mm. The latter example is bent. Biddle 1990, 746, unclassified. 12th - 16th century.
Writing leads like this follow the traditional shape of the earlier writing tablet styli, although it is unclear how effective a lead stylus would be for inscribing wax, and it seems more likely that they were used to make grey marks, as pencils. They are difficult to date as they have a long lifespan and examples of similar writing leads from Winchester ranged from 13th-15th century date. However, it seems that some writing leads were also used in the post-medieval period and it is not inconceivable that this is later than medieval.
Class: writing lead
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1100
Date to: Circa AD 1600
Quantity: 2
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 21st July 2016 - Wednesday 21st December 2016
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SMR reference number: 57000
Other reference: ECKC122016
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: TL9794
Four figure Latitude: 52.50828578
Four figure longitude: 0.90139991
1:25K map: TL9794
1:10K map: TL99SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.