Finds reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme in 2012-2013

FINDS REPORTED TO THE PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME IN 2012–2013 LAURA BURNETT, SOMERSET FINDS LIAISON OFFICER INTRODUCTION In 2012 and 2013 a total of 3,762 finds from Somerset1 were recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) in 2,198 records. This included several small Roman coin hoards, which it is hoped will be published separately. • • • The recorded finds were of all periods from the Palaeolithic to c. AD 1900, with the following breakdown, based on number of records rather than objects2: Palaeolithic: <1%, Mesolithic: 2%, Neolithic: 6%, Bronze Age: 1%, Iron Age: <1%, Roman: 36%, Early-Medieval: 1%, Medieval: 17%, Post-Medieval: 33%, and Modern: <1%. 2% were of unknown period 3. They were made from a range of materials: metal: 86% (of which copper alloys 73%), pottery: 4%, and worked stone: 9%. Most finds were discovered whilst metal detecting (89%), some as ‘eyes only’ surface finds; others were discovered by people out walking, gardening or as other chance finds. Many other finds examined by the Somerset Finds Liaison Officer and colleagues were not recorded – generally finds that post-date AD 1700. Those described below are a selection that are significant, either nationally or locally. Complete records of all finds recorded, with colour photographs, can be viewed on the PAS online database: finds.org.uk/ database. Fig. 1 Sickle from Chewton Mendip which also has use-blunting and some later damage on the other edge. The proximal end is complete but the distal end is snapped (although it thins to this point so it is not clear how much was lost). It is heavily re-patinated and iron stained. It is 101.6mm by 38.8mm, 11.8mm thick and weighs 55.32 grams. Drawing by R.M.A. Trevarthen who suggests (pers. comm. 2012) this is a possible Neolithic or Early Bronze Age sickle based in the very marked useblunting of one edge, typical for tools used to cut grasses, which have a high silica content. PRINCIPAL FINDS Neolithic or Early Bronze Age sickle from Chewton Mendip (SOM-92BAE2) Knapped flint tool, probably a sickle (Fig. 1) formed from a very large secondary blade dating to c. 4000-1500 BC. The piece has long, parallel, semi-abrupt retouch on both faces along one edge Fig. 2 Pin from Portbury 137 Somerset Arch Soc no 157.indb 137 15/09/2014 16:28:17 SOMERSET ARCHAEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY, 2013 Bronze Age dress pin from Portbury (GLO-439E61) Cast copper-alloy Picardy pin (Fig. 2) dating to the ‘Ornament horizon’ period of the late Taunton or early Penard phase of the later Middle Bronze Age, approximately 1400-1250 BC. The pin head is globular with a hollow terminal with crimped edges. Immediately behind the head the shaft narrows, before expanding into a central swelling decorated with a series of transverse grooves. After the swelling a small loop protrudes from the side. The rest of the shaft is undecorated. The tip has been bent at a right angle. It is now 170mm long, 6mm in diameter and weighs 22.11 grams. These large and highly decorative pins would be displayed on an external garment such as a cloak. They are found in Britain and across the north European plain but are rare, particularly complete examples such as this. Fig. 3 Jar or bowl sherd from Woolavington is very similar to the illustrated examples P245 and P261 (Rouillard 1987, 211-212). This form of pottery is now dated to the 4th to the 1st century BC. Fig. 4 Capricorn figurine from Burrington Roman figurine in the shape of a capricornus from Burrington (SWYOR-29B362) A large cast copper-alloy figurine (Fig. 4) in the shape of a capricornus, with a goat’s foreparts and fish’s tail. It is finely moulded with details such as the hair and scales picked out with incised lines. The figurine appears to be complete apart from the horns, with no sign of attachments that would have fixed it to a larger item. The raised foreleg may have rested on a globe in a pose seen on coins and other iconography. It is 250mm by 38mm and 88mm tall and weighs 886 grams. The capricornus is associated with Augustus (31 BC – AD 14) and military units founded by him, such as the Legio II Augusta. Augustus was conceived in under the sign of Capricorn and adopted its associations as ruler of the West. Acquired by the Museum of Somerset (103/2012). Iron Age Glastonbury Ware jar or bowl sherd from Woolavington (SOM-5E3915) The rim sherd (Fig. 3) is upright, slightly everted and rounded. Both surfaces are smoothed. It is decorated externally with curved lines creating a swag like pattern around the circumference of the vessel. The space between and under the curves is shaded with oblique lines. This decorative band is finished with two parallel lines underneath the swags. The fabric is quartz tempered, fired to a dark brown and fits into the Meare Fabric Group 1 (Rouillard 1987, 183). Too little of the rim remains to calculate the original diameter. It weighs 21.78 grams. This form of decoration has been categorised as ‘Decorative Group B – Curvilinear’ and this sherd Fig. 5 Brooch from Somerton 138 Somerset Arch Soc no 157.indb 138 15/09/2014 16:28:18 FINDS REPORTED TO THE PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME IN 2012–2013 Roman zoomorphic plate brooch from Somerton (SOM-7ED8B2) A copper-alloy brooch in the shape of a two-headed sea monster of Feugère’s type 29a5 (Fig. 5) dating to around the 2nd century AD. The creature has a curved L-shaped body with its main head looking backwards. The tip of the tail is shaped into another head, facing the first. Both heads have small crests and gaping mouths with punched eyes. It has curved legs front and back and a triangular projection, like a fishtail, on the tail. On the body and triangular projection are cells containing red and decayed light green enamel. On the back are the remains of a hinged pin. It is 40.1 mm by 25.3mm and 9.3mm thick; it weighs 8.27 grams. This is one of the best preserved and possibly only complete example known of this rare form of brooch. A broken example of this type can be found illustrated in Hattatt (2000, 363; no. 1417), with other examples listed by Feugère (1985, 400-401) from various findspots in northwest Europe. pers. comm.) comments: “The precise shape isn’t paralleled in any other of the few appliqués known, but they are all very variable both in shape and in details of decoration”. Most known hanging bowls are from the eastern side of England but this may be an accident of survival. There is a distinctly Celtic influence in their decoration and it has been suggested they were produced in Northern Britain (Geake 1999, 1). Fig. 7 Strap-end from Mudford Early Medieval strap-end from Mudford (SOM-9ABAE0)5 Fig. 6 Hanging bowl appliqué from Chewton Mendip Early Medieval hanging bowl appliqué from Chewton Mendip (SOM-7F2A01) Copper-alloy zoomorphic appliqué, probably of 7th century date in the form of two animals with the animals’ eyes and open jaws at each end and interlaced bodies in the centre (Fig. 6). The recessed cells on the bodies, jaws and eyes contain decayed remains of red enamel with some cream surface corrosion product. The appliqué is curved slightly from damage or to fit the bowl. It is 24.7mm by 14.3mm and 1.9mm thick; it weighs 3.30 grams. The appliqué would have been soldered to the side of a hanging bowl. Dr H. Geake (2012 Cast copper-alloy tongue shaped strap-end of Thomas (2004) Class E, Type 4 with Borre style decoration dating to the late 9th to mid 10th century AD (Fig. 7). On the front is a raised interlaced design with paired lines making a complicated knot pattern around a central concave sided rectangle which extends at its lower edge into three points. The back is plain. The straight upper edge was originally split at the top with a gap between for the strap. Only the front survives with three holes containing traces of iron rivets. It is 40.9mm by 25.3mm and 2.4mm thick; it weighs 9.24 grams. Borre style strap-ends are rare in Britain and very rare in the South West. Dr J. Kershaw (2012 pers. comm.) has pointed out the strong similarity to an example from Wharram Percy (Stamper and Croft 2000, fig. 61; no. 22), where the central rectangle is more clearly the body of an animal and the interlace its limbs. She suggests the Mudford example was made in England in an Anglo-Scandinavian setting. Donated by the finder to the Museum of Somerset (33/2012). 139 Somerset Arch Soc no 157.indb 139 15/09/2014 16:28:19 SOMERSET ARCHAEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY, 2013 Fig. 8 Penny of William I from near Frome Fig. 10 Papal bulla from Cheddon Fitzpaine Medieval papal bulla from Cheddon Fitzpaine (SOM-FBA501) Fig. 9 Coin hoard from Stogumber Two Medieval coin hoards from near Frome (SOM-918335, Treasure case 2013 T77) and Stogumber (SOM-773215, Treasure case 2012 T200) Two very small but interesting ‘hoards’ were reported in 2012-13. SOM-918335 consisted of two pennies of William I of the Two Stars type, North 845 (1994, 191), one minted by Ægelric at Hereford (Fig. 8) and one by Godwine at Winchester. These are rare coins and the first was the first known example of this type issued by this moneyer (Dr M. Allen 2013 pers. comm.). It is hoped they will go on display at Frome Museum. SOM-7732156 was a group of four pennies of William I found squashed together and badly distorted (Fig. 9); only two could be partially identified. Both were of the Two Sceptres type, North 844 (1994, 191), one minted Ælnoth at Shaftesbury. Again this was the first coin of this type known for this moneyer at this mint. Acquired by the Museum of Somerset (104/2012). A disc shaped lead bulla (seal) of Pope Paul II (r. AD 1464-1471) (Fig. 10). On the obverse St Paul, holding a sword, and St Peter, holding keys, sit on thrones flanking a cross on a globe. On the reverse Paul II is enthroned left of centre, flanked by cardinals and with his flock kneeling in prayer in the lower right. Down the centre of the reverse is a scar where the thread, which previously attached the bulla to the document, has been ripped out. It is 41.6mm by 38.7mm, 6.3mm thick and weighs 58.65 grams. Bullae were attached to papal bulls, documents issued by the pope to grant or confirm rights or benefits and convey orders. Bulla design is highly conservative with the same basic design of the heads of Sts Paul and Peter on one side and the pope’s name on the other used from the start of the Medieval period until today. Paul II was the only pope to commission a different and more elaborate design, of which this is the sole example out of over 300 bulla recorded nationally by the PAS. Acquired by the Museum of Somerset (2/2014). Fig. 11 Buckle from Hinton St. George 140 Somerset Arch Soc no 157.indb 140 15/09/2014 16:28:20 FINDS REPORTED TO THE PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME IN 2012–2013 Medieval buckle from Hinton St. George (SOM-38E745, Treasure case 2012 T842) Silver double looped buckle frame with pin (Fig. 11). The frame is unusual in form with a separate pin bar and strap bar. The elaborate pin bar has two curled out pieces flanking the pin constriction. The front is decorated with incised lines and stamped motifs apart from the plain strap bar both flanked by lobed kings. On the back are marks from casting the piece in a cuttlebone, a common technique in the late Medieval period. The frame is 27.5mm by 32.3mm and 2.7mm thick; it weighs 9.25 grams in total. The form is difficult to parallel precisely in Britain. Broadly similar but plainer copper-alloy examples are known and given a later Medieval date (such as Egan 2007, 94). Parallels in silver are found on the Continent dated to the 13th century (Beyrou 2000, 214; fig. 145, no. 8) or to before AD 1250 (Fingerlin 1971, 218; (fig. 336). Acquired by the Museum of Somerset (5/2014). Two Medieval forgers’ moulds from Faulkland (SOM-0EC771 and SOM-0DF054) These two rectangular two-part moulds are for a halfpenny (Fig. 12), probably of Edward III (AD 1327-1377) and a halfgroat of Henry VI (Fig. 13) of the Rosette-Mascle type dating to AD 14271430. The lead-alloy moulds both have long channels for casting and the halfpenny mould has alignment marks on the side. The halfpenny mould parts are 46.8 mm long, 20.2mm wide, 6.9mm thick and they weigh 75.75 grams in total. The halfgroat mould parts are 99.2mm long, 37.3mm wide and 11.8mm thick and they weigh 726 grams in total. These appear to be contemporary forgers’ moulds, but their use is problematic. It would not be possible to cast base silver or copper forgeries in them as the moulds would melt on contact with the hotter metal. If they are a high-tin lead mix it may be possible to cast pure lead forgeries for silvering or cliché forgeries with silver sheet outers and lead inners. Making wax blanks for the lost wax process is possible but shrinkage of clay moulds used in the process would be problematic. It is hoped the moulds’ compositions will be analysed and examined for traces of what was cast in them, which may resolve these questions. Fig. 12 Halfpenny coin mould from Faulkland Fig. 14 Hornpipe from North Cadbury Medieval or Post Medieval hornpipe from North Cadbury (SOM-17C1D5)7 Fig. 13 Halfgroat coin mould from Faulkland End-blown hornpipe made from antler, with seven finger holes down the front (Fig. 14). The hornpipe is broken at the end and the separate mouth piece, which may have held a reed, is missing. There is a thumb rest on the back. It is now 148.0mm long, 10.2mm in diameter at the head and 22.7mm by 16.8mm at the foot; it weighs 10.77 grams. Similar horns, with three holes, are known from an 11th to 12th century context from London (Keily 141 Somerset Arch Soc no 157.indb 141 15/09/2014 16:28:21 SOMERSET ARCHAEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY, 2013 2011, fig. 61) and from 13th and 14th century contexts in Poland (Tamboer 2000, figs. 56 and 57). The Polish examples also have evidence for separate mouth pieces. Later, post-medieval examples are also known (Dr I. Riddler 2013 and Dr G. Lawson 2014 pers. comms.). Such fragile pieces in organic material do not survive often and the use of antler is unusual as most are in horn or wood. Fig. 16 Half-unite of Charles I from Priston Post Medieval half unite of Charles I from Priston (WILT-852CB5) Fig. 15 Cloth seal from Wellington Post Medieval cloth seal from Wellington (SOM-9F1A10) Incomplete lead-alloy seal for cloth made in Tiverton, Devon (Fig. 15). About two thirds of one of the pair of discs survives with its central stud on the back. The other disc and the rectangular tab that joined the pair are missing. The disc is stamped with a merchant’s mark of a human foot over an elongated 4 with an F below the toes and an unclear S under the heel. The outer border and legend is mostly missing; the remaining part reads: [...]RIDG[...]. It is 22.2mm by 19.1mm and 2.3mm thick including the stub, it weighs 4.35 grams. P. Cannon (2012 pers. comm.) identified this seal as one of a series with this merchant’s mark, which belonged to Samuel Foote (d. AD 1691), a significant merchant in Tiverton. Examples are known which, like this, bear his mark but name his son-in-law Robert Burridge or grandson Samuel Burridge. Cloth seals were used to indicate the cloth’s standard, length, whether duty had been paid and, as in this case, which firm made and dyed the cloth. They stayed on the cloth until it was used. Examples of this seal are known from Holland and Germany but this may be the first recorded from this country. A gold half-unite dating to AD 1643, North 2395 (1991, 175). This coin (Fig. 16) was minted during the Civil War at Thomas Bushell’s mint, Oxford. Its reverse legend combines Psalm lxviii. 1 with a Latin translation of Charles’s declaration at Wellington in 1642: that he would “preserve the Protestant religion, the known laws of the land, and the just privileges and freedom of Parliament.” The coin has been bent in two places and pierced from the obverse. It is 27.7 mm in diameter, 0.6 mm thick and weighs 4.5 grams. ‘Crooked’ coins bent in this way are common in the 17th and 18th centuries. Often referred to as ‘love tokens’, they were also used as good luck charms and offerings. Piercing allowed the coin to be worn or sewn to clothing. The choice of this specific coin may suggest this was a token or charm used for its political or religious association with the king, later declared a martyr by Catholics, rather than romantically. GLO-20BE01 from Hemington is a copper-alloy mass produced medallion of Charles I, possibly used in the same way (Lewis 2013, 390391; fig. 2). Endnotes 1 2 3 4 The figures given are for the historic county of Somerset including North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset. This under represents flint and pottery and periods when these are heavily represented. Mostly material such as lead weights or metal working debris that are inherently hard to date out of context. Included in Lewis 2013a and Worrell and Pearce (2013, 369-372) 142 Somerset Arch Soc no 157.indb 142 15/09/2014 16:28:23 FINDS REPORTED TO THE PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME IN 2012–2013 5 6 7 Included in Lewis 2013a Included in Naylor 2013, 265 and Allen et al 2013, 274, no.93. Included in Geake 2013, 272. Acknowledgements Some of these finds were initially identified and recorded by my PAS colleagues: Rob Webley, Kurt Adams, Richard Henry, and Alice Forward. I would like to thank them for allowing me to publish descriptions based on their initial records. Thanks are due to those experts who have commented on specific finds, as referenced in the text, and Rob Webley commented helpfully on the whole. Thanks are also due to all who volunteered their finds for recording in these years. Bibliography Allen, M. et al, 2013. ‘Coin Hoards from the British Isles 2013’, British Numismatic Journal, 83, 263-75. Bayrou, L. 2000 Peyrepertuse: Forteresse royale (Archéologie du Midi médiéval. Supplément, 3). Carcassone. Egan, G., 2007. ‘Later medieval non-ferrous metalwork and evidence for metal working AD 1010-1100 to 1500-1550’, in D. Griffiths, R. A. Philpott and G. Egan (eds), Meols: The Archaeology of the North West Wirral Coast, Oxford, 77-187. Feugère, M., 1985. Les Fibules en Gaule Méridionale, Paris. Fingerlin, I., 1971. Gürtel des hohen und späten Mittelalters, München. Geake, H., 1999. ‘Why were hanging bowls deposited in Anglo-Saxon graves?’ Medieval Archaeology, 43, 1-18. Geake, H., 2013. ‘High and Late Medieval,’ in J. Naylor (ed.) op. cit., 270-272. Hattatt, R., 2000. A visual catalogue of Richard Hattatt’s ancient brooches, Oxford. Keily, J., 2011. ‘Bone accessioned finds and antler and horn working’, in M. Burch and P. Trevail, The development of early medieval and later Poultry and Cheapside: excavations at No.1 Poultry and vicinity, City of London: volume 2, MOLA Monograph 38, London. Lewis, M., 2013 (ed). The Portable Antiquities Scheme Annual Report 2012. London. Lewis, M. 2013b. ‘Report of the Portable Antiquities Scheme 2012’ Post-Medieval Archaeology, 47/2, 388401. Naylor, J., 2013 (ed). ‘Portable Antiquities Scheme report’, Medieval Archaeology, 57, 262-284. North, J. J., 1994. English Hammered Coinage, Volume I. Early Anglo-Saxon to Henry III, c. 600-1272, London. North, J. J., 1991. English Hammered Coinage, Volume 2. Edward I to Charles II 1272-1662, London. Rouillard S. E., 1987. ‘The Iron Age Pottery from Meare Village East’ in J. Coles (ed.), Meare Village East: the excavations of A. Bulleid and H. St George Gray 1932- 1956. Somerset Levels Papers No 13, Taunton, 183-221. Stamper, P. and Croft, R. A., 2000. Wharram, A Study of Settlement on the Yorkshire Wolds, York. Tamboer, A., 2000. Dźwięk z przeszłości: Archeologiczne instrumenty muzyczne na przestrzeni wieków, Poznaniu. Thomas, G., 2004. Late Anglo-Saxon and Viking Age Strap-Ends 750-1100: Part 2, Finds Research Group Datasheet 33, Lincolnshire. Worrell, S. and Pearce, J., 2013. ‘Roman Britain in 2012: II Finds reported under the Portable Antiquities Scheme’, Britannia, 44, 345-380. 143 Somerset Arch Soc no 157.indb 143 15/09/2014 16:28:24