Rights Holder: Lincolnshire County Council
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AWL
Unique ID: LIN-6AA5DE
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A Viking antler handle from an awl, dating to the ninth or tenth century AD.
The handle is made from a piece of antler tine and is neatly cut flat at both ends. The tine is sub-circular in section and tapers from end to end. The centre of the antler is hollow. Both ends have been carefully modified in order to allow an awl (now missing) to be inserted. The modification comprises a deeply cut, v-shaped notch, which at its deepest cuts into the hollow centre. A series of cut marks shows that the notches were cut in stages. The notch at the larger end of the time is damaged. The exterior of the tine is smooth, having a 'polished' appearance, which presumably occurred through extensive use of the tool.
The handle measures 163mm in length and tapers from 24mm diameter to 16mm.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 850
Date to: Circa AD 1000
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 163 mm
Width: 24 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Primary material: Animal skeletal material
Manufacture method: Hand made
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: East Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Lincolnshire (County)
District: North Kesteven (District)
Parish or ward: Osbournby (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TF0738
Four figure Latitude: 52.92875533
Four figure longitude: -0.40966806
1:25K map: TF0738
1:10K map: TF03NE
Grid reference source: Centred on village (which isn't a parish)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1000 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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