Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: DEV-ADAABF
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A complete medieval to post medieval writing lead or early form of lead pencil, dating to c. 1400 to 1600 AD.
The pencil is rectangular in cross section with rounded corners, and tapers to a sharp triangular point used for writing. At the opposite end the rectangle becomes more flattened, before flaring outwards to form a fishtail shape, with a notched V between two triangular terminals. At the midpoint of the shaft of the pencil are two slender inscribed lines which ring it.
LVPL-DFE099 has a similar flared end, but lacks the distinctive v-shaped form of the terminal. NMS-1DF422 is also similar, and the record for it states that: "writing leads like this follow the traditional shape of the earlier writing tablet styli, although it is unclear how effective a lead stylus would be for inscribing wax. They are difficult to date as they have a long lifespan and examples of similar writing leads from Winchester ranged from 13th-15th century date. However, it seems that some writing leads were also used in the post-medieval period and it is not inconceivable that this is later than medieval."
Measurements:
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1600
Quantity: 1
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference: SCC Receipt 18191
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: SX5455
Four figure Latitude: 50.37672804
Four figure longitude: -4.05466169
1:25K map: SX5455
1:10K map: SX55SW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.