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Description: | Medieval trade weight; cast lead object, most likely a standing trade weight of the rough period 12th-15th century. The object is a rectangular pyramid of lead. At the apex, the sides have been pulled upwards to form two extensions. These have been broken off but it seems likely that they were formed into an attachment loop. The weight is decorated with incised lines forming a grid across the four sides of its surface. There is a pellet in each square of the grid. The base of the pyramid has rough scratches, approximating a grid similar to that on the sides, and four indents. The whole has a patchy, thick, cream patina over its surface.Length 26.59mm, width top 7.65mm, width base 16.70mm, thickness top 6.27mm, thickness base 14.23mm, weight 32.66g.While the most likely function of this object is as a trade weight, it could alternatively have been used as a gaming piece. Similar objects have been found from late Early Medieval and Medieval contexts, which have been interpreted as gaming counters. The unusual and deliberate decoration on this item adds some weight to the suggestion that it may be a gaming piece.Refs: Biggs and Withers 'Lead Weights: The David Rogers Collection', pages 30-33, has examples of standing weights and pieces which may be interpreted as gaming pieces. See especially artefacts 70, 71 and 84.Also Biggs 'English Weights', pages 40 & 41, shows more medieval standing weights
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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