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BOOK FITTING
Unique ID: PUBLIC-175E19
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete Post Medieval Copper alloy book clasp dating to the period c. AD 1500 - 1700.
Only the front plate remains. The fitting is rectangular in plan with a flaring end, terminated with three cusps. The opposing end expands to a rectangular plate with a central recurving, now truncated hook. There is a drilled rivet hole positioned near the flaring end and a further hole with a rivet in situ, centrally located within the object.
The front of the plate is decorated at the hook end with a horizontal band of incised parallel lines. The lines continue along the central chord up to a point where corrosion and wear is present. Thereafter the lines continue through to the rivet hole at the flared end. The flared end is further decorated with two incised concentric circles around the vacant rivet hole. The reverse of the plate is plain and undecorated. The object has a mid-brown abraded patina with concretions in places.
The fitting measures 47.39mm in length, 13.24mm in width, 1.21mm thick and it weighs 2.81g.
The form and decoration are typical of book clasps of the early post-medieval period, as discussed by Margeson (1993: 74). Many other examples can be seen on the PAS database, as SWYOR-CF73E3.
Class: Clasp
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 47.39 mm
Width: 13.24 mm
Thickness: 1.21 mm
Weight: 2.81 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 10th March 2019
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: PastfindersI
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: East Sussex (County)
District: Lewes (District)
To be known as: Near Lewes
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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