Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
TUMBREL
Unique ID: LANCUM-54BC04
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Copper-alloy fragment from a tumbrel or folding coin balance of medieval date (c. 1300 - 1450 AD). The object is long and thin, with a convex body that is facetted on the upper side. It terminates at one end in a stylized animal head, with a rounded snout, indented circular eyes and three protruding triangular ridges that point towards the end, distinguishing the zoomorphic terminal from the central section of the fragment. The other end terminates in two rectangular spurs where the other half of the tumbrel, including the balance arm that would have been attached to an axis bar between the two spurs, has broken off. The broken end is similarly demarcated by three ridges, in this case running straight across the object. The underside of the object is convex, with a grove that covers the entire length of the object, originally forming a casing for the balance arm. The object has a smooth, dark-brown patina. It is 41.5mm in length, 9.0mm in width and 7.0mm at maximum thickness. It weighs 7.94g.
There are more complete examples of this type of object on the database, including: DOR-E7C843, NLM-C140CB and FAKL-A74482. Other examples with a zoomorphic design include: NLM-0BAD80.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1450
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 41.5 mm
Width: 9 mm
Thickness: 7 mm
Weight: 7.94 g
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: N5645
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Decoration style: Zoomorphic
Completeness: Fragment
Spatial metadata
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber (European Region)County or Unitary authority: York (Unitary Authority)
District: York (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Naburn (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SE5945
Four figure Latitude: 53.89782235
Four figure longitude: -1.10361565
1:25K map: SE5945
1:10K map: SE54NE
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: LANCUM-F8EF98
Object type: TUMBREL
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
Copper-alloy fragment from a tumbrel or folding coin balance of medieval date (c. 1300 - 1450 AD). The object is broadly rectangular in plan.…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SF-9E2F27
Object type: TUMBREL
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
An incomplete copper-alloy tumbrel or coin balance of Medieval date. It is missing the terminal of the balancing arm due to old breaks, now w…
Workflow: Published
Find number: DOR-E7C843
Object type: TUMBREL
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
An incomplete copper alloy trebuchet or tumbrel-type folding coin balance, Approximately half of the tumbrel survives, consisting of half of …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618