Record ID: LON-1F66EF
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A Post Medieval iron strike-a-light ‘fire steel’ probably dating from AD 1500-1700. The 'fire steel' has a stepped rectangular body and curving square-sectioned arms which return touching the rectangular body before curving up and terminating in coils. One arm is broken and missing. Dimensions: length: 80.20mm; width: 39.14mm; thickness: 5.49mm; weight: 47.07g Other strike-a-lights on the database are OXON-EB193E, PUBLIC-1CC6C6, LON-71B542 and LON-6357F6.  Museum of London write "This strike-a-light or ‘fire steel’ was used to light a fire o…
Created on: Monday 15th May 2023
Last updated: Tuesday 23rd May 2023
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-1CC6C6
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A Post Medieval iron "strike-a-light" implement for striking a flint to raise a spark to ignite tinder for a fire. these objects are also known as a fire steel. The object has a sub-rectangular striking plate with two curved handles, probably dating to 17th Century AD. Measurments :- Length 62.15mm ,  Width 30.07mm ,  Thickness 7.92mm ,  Weight 31.3g Similar objects shown on the PAS database :- OXON-EB193E , LON-71B542 and LON-6357F6.  A very similar object is shown on the Museum of London's website under …
Created on: Sunday 3rd July 2022
Last updated: Thursday 14th July 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: SF-6690D5
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Suffolk
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A complete probable Early Medieval iron firesteal or strike-a-light dating to circa AD 600-700. It consists of a flat sub-rectangular bar with a central hump and scrolled ends. The scrolled ends contain central apertures. The item is heavily corroded and no discernible decorative element is visible on each face. Other Early Medieval examples can be inlaid and decorated with stylised bird heads. The scrolled ends may be part of a zoomorphic design. The item is similar in form to LIN-EF72D9 and examples depicted in West 1998: pg 195, nos 13-15. In the record of the form it is noted…
Created on: Thursday 20th May 2021
Last updated: Tuesday 1st June 2021
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Near Woodbridge', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: OXON-EB193E
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Oxfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A Medieval to Post Medieval rather corroded iron probable"strike-a-light" implement for striking flint to raise a spark for a fire to ignite tinder. Also known as a fire steel it has a sub-rectangular striking plate with two curved handles, each pierced at the top of the curve, probably dating to around the 17th Century AD
Created on: Wednesday 27th November 2019
Last updated: Friday 29th November 2019
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LIN-EF72D9
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Published
An incomplete cast, iron early Anglo-Saxon firesteel or strike-a-light. The object takes a peltaic form with a sub-crescentic plate with concave edges extending out into a central point and is rectangular in cross-section. Both sides are heavily corroded with no visible decoration. It is possible that the upturned curved terminals represent zoomorphic heads, other examples have been found inlaid and decorated with stylised birds' heads (Owen-Crock 2004, 68-9). This is the first early medieval example recorded on the PAS online database. Suggested date: 7th century AD. Form and func…
Created on: Monday 28th January 2019
Last updated: Thursday 9th April 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Osbournby area', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: FAKL-EAFCF3
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Rotherham
Workflow stage: Published
Irregular sectioned piece of flint, mid grey, translucent, with a light, white patination. Flint probably a natural chunk but with two, concave areas of its edge bearing traces of percussive damage suggesting that it has been used, in conjunction with a fire steel, to strike a spark for fire making. The concave areas may have been deliberately formed. The flint bears some traces of iron staining which would be in keeping with this function. While this object is difficult to date the battered area is patinated suggesting that it is not recent. Length 58.7mm, Width 33.8mm, Thickness 19.…
Created on: Monday 12th June 2017
Last updated: Monday 12th June 2017
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LON-5881C4
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Greater London Authority
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An incomplete Post Medieval iron strike a light (firesteel), dating to the 16th century. The object is formed of a rectangular striking plate with a wide open section at the top, tapering to the striking edge. There is a single arm visible, projecting upwards at the side of the object which is squared, curving outwards slightly at the top. The object has been broken on the arm at the point of the curve and half way along the striking plate. There is a large amount of mid-grey concretion filling the open edge of the object. It has a black -mid grey pattination with patches of orange-re…
Created on: Tuesday 2nd September 2014
Last updated: Thursday 17th March 2022
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: LANCUM-422273
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Gloucestershire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A Post Medieval strike a light flint. The knapping technique is similar to that of contemporary gun flints (for example YORYM-831015 and SF7325). For examples of the iron striker element see LON-6357F6 and LON-71B542. They are both probably dating to the 17th century and quite likely to be contemporary with this flint. This strike a light flint is most likely to date between c1600 and c1850 AD. The length is 41mm, the width is 15mm, the depth is 8mm, and the weight is 7.94g.
Created on: Thursday 28th March 2013
Last updated: Monday 13th May 2013
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Aldsworth', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DEV-387666
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Devon
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Possible prehistoric flint strike- a - light. Damage can be seen on the surface of the flint, which suggests that the flint may have been used- possibly as a strike a light in order to create a spark to start a fire. Length: 57mm: Width: x35mm
Created on: Wednesday 14th November 2012
Last updated: Wednesday 14th November 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: BERK-325B98
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: MODERN
County: Oxfordshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Two possible strike-a-lights, one on a prehistoric core, shown modern reuse of a prehistoric object. Found near a railway cutting so could be associated with navvies there c1840s possibly. Metal stains on core fragment.
Created on: Thursday 21st June 2012
Last updated: Wednesday 28th May 2014
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-F30B33
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: BRONZE AGE
County: Cornwall
Workflow stage: Published
Found by Shauney Strick;A large piece of flint for this area which has been flaked off the end of a nodule. Flakes have been removed from the edge of the platform created and have shallowly removed cortex from the dorsal surface. The edge has been heavily abraded in places as though localised deliberate use for a grinding or strike-a-light task. There is an overall water worn appearance. There is fresher abrasion to the tip of the tool and this might be recent plough damage or reuse after the tumbling in water. Butler describes strike-a-lights from prehistoric to Medieval times on page 17.
Created on: Wednesday 6th June 2012
Last updated: Tuesday 19th March 2013
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Raginnis', grid reference and parish protected.

Record ID: DEV-1E20C4
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Devon
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Prehistoric flint scraper which has been re-used as a strike- a- light. The flint has been re-touched around the edges for use as a scraper. Damage is also visible on the surface, where the flint scraper has later been used as a strike-a -light in order to create a spark to light a fire. The flint is black in colour with a small amount of grey flecks. Cortex still remains on part of the surface of the flint.
Created on: Tuesday 27th March 2012
Last updated: Monday 12th November 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DEV-1DEBA8
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: MESOLITHIC
County: Devon
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Prehistoric strike-a -light of Neolithic to Bronze Age date. The edge is heavily damaged, demonstrating wear. The flint is black in colour with grey flecks; traces of the cortex remain on the dorsal surface. Seen by Professor Bruce Bradley, March 2012.
Created on: Tuesday 27th March 2012
Last updated: Tuesday 13th November 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: DEV-1DB352
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Devon
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Prehistoric flint scraper which has been re-used as a strike-a-light. Damage can be seen at the edge of the flake. The flint is probably neolithic in date.
Created on: Tuesday 27th March 2012
Last updated: Friday 9th November 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-DE6478
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Cornwall
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
An abraded edged hard hammered fragment of nearly black nodular flint. It must have been used as a hammerstone or other heavy duty including grinding or a strike a light. Butler(2005) illustrates a modern flint knapper's kit including hammerstones on colour plate 6.
Created on: Wednesday 11th January 2012
Last updated: Wednesday 8th February 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-8AC9D4
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Cornwall
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A gunflint shaped piece of flint. Butler(2005) illustrates one on page 191, fig 77. It is nearly square in plan and of wedge section. However it has a piece of pebble cortex at the distal end unlike the work of The Brandon knappers and others who use nodular flint. The tool has been exposed to strong heat, altered to opaque grey and internally fractured.This property was utilised as some kind of grinding tool as it has gained several flat but rough facets.
Created on: Sunday 2nd October 2011
Last updated: Sunday 29th January 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-6D75C3
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Cornwall
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A thick, broad cortical flake from an orangey grey translucent chert nodule. The ventral surface has parallel feathered flakes invading from the margins but this may not be intentional as it is accompanied by bruising and crushing damage. This sort of appearance can be found on hammer stones but this is an awkward shape and may have been used as a striker against a lump of iron pyrites. This produces a weak spark which with skill can make fire.D.L.Clarke(1970) illustrates 2 examples in a Beaker context where the striker is found with a corroded lump of 'iron ore' on page 374, fig 780 …
Created on: Saturday 1st October 2011
Last updated: Wednesday 8th February 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-FAE111
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Cornwall
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A single platform core of black flint with light grey inclusions worked all the way around for flakes. The base is a flat patch of pebble cortex. The platform edge has been abraded far beyond the needs of platform preparation with scars invading the platform surface all the way around as well as on the flaking face. This from experiments grinding greenstone and striking (weak!) sparks off pyrites nodules produces this effect on the sharp flint edge when best results are being achieved. If this harsh re-use of the scraper was contemporary with the style of the core then a broadly Neoli…
Created on: Tuesday 13th September 2011
Last updated: Wednesday 8th February 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: PUBLIC-FA00F6
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
County: Cornwall
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A thick flake of dark grey nodular flint with opaque cream inclusions. There are some invasive scars from both lateral dorsal margins but these seem to be an unintended consequence of use of the entire margin and other nearby ridges as a hammer, leaving them battered. Given the awkward shape and even distribution of damage then the object is more likely used for available sharp edges to act against a piece of pyrites or perhaps if more recent then a piece of hardened steel.Rainbird clarke gives an account of 'The Flint Knapping Industry at Brandon' in Antiquity, March 1935 and puts t…
Created on: Tuesday 13th September 2011
Last updated: Sunday 29th January 2012
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NLM-D51F11
Object type: STRIKE A LIGHT
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
County: Lincolnshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
Iron strike-a-light (as identified by finder). An oval loop of wrought iron, now of rectangular section (though the delamination of iron may sometimes create this appearance). Suggested date: Post-Medieval, 1600-1700. Length: 49.5mm, Width: 23.2mm, Thickness: 7.5mm, Weight: 21.36gms.
Created on: Tuesday 19th October 2010
Last updated: Thursday 23rd April 2020
Spatial data recorded. This findspot is known as 'Swinhope', grid reference and parish protected.