IRON AGE UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT

-100

An unidentified cast copper alloy artefact of potential late Iron Age – Roman date (100 BC – 250 AD). The fragment is made from a heavily leaded bronze and resembles stylistically the shape of a linch pin terminal, however, the overall size and composition differs from the known artefact type. The foot has an irregular square shaped socket which must taper along the shaft. The socket is filled with an iron corrosion and the remains of part of an iron fitting. From the foot the socket tapers into a shallow D shaped arm which is slightly bent and then flares into a pointed oval head plate. The front plate of the head is flat whilst the reverse is bowed (forming a D shaped cross section). The edges are faceted. There is no decoration present.The artefact measures 41.7mm length, has a maximum width of 15.8mm, has a maximum thickness of 12.3mm and weighs 16.5 gramsThe artefact is a mid grey green colour with a polished but abraded patina. The edges of the piece have been abraded in the ploughsoil and there is laminating corrosion present. It is possible that this artefact is part of a linch pin terminal and is similar in style if not shape to a sub-category of composite linch pins called ‘hoof’ type terminal (Hutcheson, N. 2004 Later Iron Age Norfolk: Metalwork, landscape and society B.A.R. 361 p. 109). However, it is possible that this artefact may be more mundane and be the terminal from a coat hook or similar artefact of late post medieval (1650 – 1800) date. If this were the case it does not conform to the mass produced examples regularly reported and the use of two metals is irregular.