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Description: | Incomplete cast copper alloy rowel spur of probable late medieval to post medieval date, 1400 - 1650 AD. Both the sides (arms) of the spur are broken and the rowel is missing. The spur fragment measures 53.1mm in length and is broadly Y shaped in plan, with the two sides forming an angular U shape. The maximum width of the spur fragment is 58.8mm, and the maximum thickness is 12.5mm. The spur fragment weighs 36.27 grams. The rowel from the spur is missing, a large amount of iron corrosion present within the rowel box would suggest it was made of iron and has been lost through corrosion. The rowel box and neck of the spur are sub-rectangular in plan and in cross section. The sides of the neck taper from the crest (where the two side arms meet) and then flare toward the terminal of the rowel box. The rowel box is formed by an area being cut from the neck of the spur forming a U shaped area where the rowel would be fitted. However the rowel box is aligned differently to most spurs seen by the recorder with the slit being arranged horizontally and the pierced hole being aligned vertically. In most spurs of this period they are usually the opposite way around. Both the sides (arms) of the spur taper toward the terminals and are broken approximately half way along their lengths. Both arms sub rectangular (D shaped) in cross section. They have a maximum width of 10.1mm and a maximum thickness of 4.9mm at the crest or neck of the spur near the rowel box and a maximum width of 9.8mm and a maximum thickness of 3.2mm at the broken end. It seems that the spur has been repaired at some point as one of the breaks is relatively old and a new hole has been drilled through the arm to act as a fitting. The opposite arm has broken at the point of the strap loop.The spur is a mid - light green brown colour with an uneven patina that covers most surfaces. Much of the spur has been abraded in the plough soil and large areas of corrosion pitting are present. The breaks in the spur are relatively old and have been abraded by movement within the plough horizon. This damage is likely to be a direct result of movement in the plough soil. Similar parallels to this spur can be seen in The Medieval Horse and its Equipment (London 1995) pages 138 - 147. However both the rowel box and the repaired / redesigned fittings are highly unusual suggesting that the spur was used for a prolonged period.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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