Rights Holder: Cambridgeshire County Council
CC License:
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Unique ID: CAM-DDB1EB
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A lead weight enclosed in an open-work copper-alloy casing surround. This artefact dates from the late Early-Medieval to early Medieval period. This weight has a sub-spherical shape with a diameter of 32.4mm and height of 25.2mm.
Four open-work sub-lozenge shapes, in the copper casing, are, approximately equally, spaced around the mid-point of the circumference. These range in size from 12.9mm x11.3mm to 15.8mm x 13.4mm. The lead fills the copper casing and comes level with these lozenges or stops concave from the layer of copper-alloy surrounding the lozenges. This gives the artefact a partially sub-squared sperical cross-section.
Four open-work triangles are present above and below, but set between, the lozenges. These eight triangles measure approximately 8.4mm x 6.0mm and all have the apexes directed towards the lozenges, the flat edges away from them. Again, the lead centre of the artefact comes level with the open-work triangles or stops concave from the layer of copper-alloy surrounding them.
The surface of the copper between the open-work lozenges and triangles is decorated with a double line of closely set punch-stamped circles. These two lines run approximately parallel to the edges of the copper separated by a plain band of c.1.7mm. On parts of the artefact this decoration is clearly visible however, on other areas of the weight it is now unclear or completely missing.
At both of the poles, of the sub-spherical weight, is a single circular aperture through the casing. These have a diameter of 8.9mm. The copper rises up slightly to form a short collar around these circular apertures. The collars have a maximum thickness of 2.0mm and height not greater than 1.0mm. Short, closely set, incised (or possibly punch-stamped) lines radiate out from around the collar. These lines are slightly wider againt the collar and taper to a point towards the lozenges. The lines have a maximum length of 2.5mm. The lead at the centre of the weight stops concave from the layer of copper-alloy surrounding one of these open-work circles. The lead almost comes to the level of the copper casing at the other circular aperture however, a linear groove is pressent within the lead indicating that something has caused gauged damage there.
Discussion:
It is most probable that this weight was designed with the lead filling the artefact up to the level of the copper-alloy casing at all of the open-work apertures. Those which now exhibit concave depressions and irregular shaped gauged marks are likely the result of later damage, whether accidental or intentional.
Most examples of these lead and copper-alloy later Early-Medieval weights have a relatively thick disc shaped form. However, one example recorded on the PAS database (LANCUM-683C84) has a lozenge shaped form. No other examples of a sub-spherical shaped form have yet been found and further research is needed for this record.
Compare with LANCUM-683C84, DOR-C46340, NMS-2FB546, SUR-14DD44, NLM-35DB13, HAMP-EEBC91, IOW-E29B7B, SOM-6F0616.
Also compare with DEV-C233BB and BH-F48C72 which are other Early Medieval aretfacts filled with lead.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 850
Date to: Circa AD 1200
Quantity: 1
Height: 25.2 mm
Weight: 98.09 g
Diameter: 32.4 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 17th September 2017 - Sunday 17th September 2017
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Primary material: Lead
Secondary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: TF2933
Four figure Latitude: 52.87900535
Four figure longitude: -0.08455195
1:25K map: TF2933
1:10K map: TF23SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biddle, M. | 1990 | Artefacts from Medieval Winchester: Object and Economy in Medieval Winchester | Oxford | Clarendon Press |