Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
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Unique ID: SOM-768D7D
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Plain silver needle of uncertain, probably Post Medieval date, c. AD 1400-1950. The needle has a sub-rectangular cross sectioned eye end which ends in a rounded terminal and then narrows and thins into the round shaft. At the point it ends in a flat end, probably a break as it is neither pointed nor rounded. The needle has a rectangular eye with slightly rounded corners and between the eye and the adjacent end there is a groove down each wide face, continuing the indent of the eye. It is slightly bend with the shaft now curved in several places.
The needle is 82.6mm long and 4.2mm wide by 2.2mm thick at the eye. The eye is 12.7mm long and 1.4mm wide. The needle weighs 2.53g.
Such a plain, large needle could have been used for wool sewing such as needlepoint or crewelwork or for lacing points. It is undiagnostic due to its simple design and after consultation with the Treasure team at the British Museum has not been reported as Treasure for this reason. The grove continuing the eye are more commonly seen on needles than bodkins similar needles are known from as early as the Roman period but recur in the Post Medieval period (Crummy 1983, 67).
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: MODERN
Date from: Circa AD 43
Date to: Circa AD 1950
Quantity: 1
Length: 82.6 mm
Width: 4.2 mm
Thickness: 2.2 mm
Weight: 2.53 g
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Other reference: SCC receipt 017910
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crummy, N. | 1983 | Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds from excavations in Colchester, 1971-9 | Colchester | Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd |