KEY (LOCKING)

Roman L-shaped copper alloy lift or slide key, Length: 91 mm, width: 5 mm, thickness: 4 mm, weight: 13.42 g.

The object is made up of two distinct halves of a rectangular-sectioned shaft. The handle end has a square cross sectioned shaft which is decorated. It has three sets of two incised transverse lines, sitting on a raised collar, spaced across the centre of the object. Above this each edge has a series of nicks running towards a second set of two lots of two incised lines sitting on raised collars. These are placed near the terminal which becomes rectangular in cross section and tapers in width whilst turning in on itself to form a loop with outwards pointing terminal, measuring 9 x 12 mm.

The other half has a sub rectangular cross section with rounded edges and is plain. It turns ninety degress on itself at the end and from this two rectangular cross sectioned prongs emerge, the inner one being shorter than the outer one. These form a bit 11mm long, 16mm wide and 3 mm thick.

These type of keys are usually made of iron and we have a few examples recorded here, See HAMP-6766C1 HAMP-B380C2 LIN-DC1ED1 LVPL1502 LVPL78.

The 20+ copper alloy keys we have recorded usually have a robust rectangular handle and loop. This item is similar to SF6580 although much more elaborately decorated. They date to the Roman or early-medieval period; the decoration on this one suggests a Roman date.