IOW-60910A: Medieval Rotary Key

Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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KEY (LOCKING)

Unique ID: IOW-60910A

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation Find awaiting validation

A complete Medieval copper-alloy rotary key (c. 1150-c. 1400).

The openwork bow is circular and flat on both faces. It has an outer diameter of 15.5mm with the hole measuring 6.9mm in diameter. There is no collar between the bow and shank. The shank is oval in cross-section and solid for most of its length but is hollow for a short distance at the bit end. The shank is parallel in width and thickness. The simple bit has three small clefts.

This key is now drab green and has been cleaned.

Length: 35.7mm; width: 16.0mm; thickness: 4.8mm; length of bit: 6.9mm; width of bit: 7.0mm; thickness of bit: 1.8mm. Weight: 5.32g.

A similar key has been published and dated c. 1150-c. 1200 (Egan 1998: 111, fig. 86, ref: 294).

Egan, G. 1998. The Medieval Household Daily Living c.1150-c.1450. Medieval finds from Excavations in London 6. London. Museum of London: The Stationery Office.

Notes:

This key has a number of modern fine white fibres adhering to the surface!

Class: Rotary key

Subsequent actions

Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1150
Date to: Circa AD 1400

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Length: 35.7 mm
Width: 16 mm
Thickness: 4.8 mm
Weight: 5.32 g

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 3rd December 2017 - Sunday 3rd December 2017

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: IOW2018-7-10

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Complete

Spatial metadata

Region: South East (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
District: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Isle of Wight

Spatial coordinates


Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
Discovery circumstances: Club rally
Current location: Finder
General landuse: Cultivated land
Specific landuse: Operations to a depth greater than 0.25m

References cited

Author Publication Year Title Publication Place Publisher Pages Reference
Egan, G. 1998 The Medieval Household: Daily Living c.1150-c.1450 (Medieval Finds from Excavations in London) London The Stationery Office 111, fig. 86 294

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Timeline of associated dates

Audit data

Recording Institution: IOW
Created: 6 years ago
Updated: 6 years ago

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