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).
KNIFE
Unique ID: BERK-E5FF80
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete copper-alloy Roman knife handle c. 50 - 400 AD. This is an example of the openwork 'hare and hound' series of folding-knife handles, an example of which has been found in excavations at Richborough, Kent (Bushe-Fox; 1949; pp.129). The design is three-dimensional and depicts a stylised hound and hare in the chase. There is a well-defined longitudinal slot of the blade at the base.
This example has been damaged, with the fulcrum for the blade missing and the form is then bent and broken with a clean mid-green patina.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: ROMAN
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 100
Date to: Circa AD 400
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 48.23 mm
Height: 13.63 mm
Thickness: 5.59 mm
Weight: 13.4 g
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Zoomorphic
Completeness: Fragment
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Oxfordshire (County)
District: Vale of White Horse (District)
Parish or ward: Harwell (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU4888
Four figure Latitude: 51.58881598
Four figure longitude: -1.30854856
1:25K map: SU4888
1:10K map: SU48NE
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: BH-9BE530
Object type: KNIFE
Broadperiod: ROMAN
A corroded fragment of a copper-alloy knife handle of Roman date. This piece is an example of the 'Hare and hound' series of folding-knife han…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: BH-1B77A8
Object type: KNIFE
Broadperiod: ROMAN
An incomplete copper-alloy knife handle of Roman date. This piece is an example of the 'Hare and hound' series of folding-knife handles, an ex…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: BH-853037
Object type: KNIFE
Broadperiod: ROMAN
A complete copper-alloy knife handle of Roman date. This piece is an example of the 'hare and hound' series of folding-knife handles, an exam…
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