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Date: |
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Description: | Cast copper alloy bell of probable later early medieval (late Saxon) or medieval date (950-1500).
The bell is sub-circular in plan and domed or arched (bell shaped) in profile with an integral cast sub-circular suspension loop attached to the top. The bell measures 44.8mm high and the base of the bell has a maximum diameter of 36.7mm. The metal is 3.7mm thick. The suspension loop measures 10.8mm in height, 16.3mm width, 6.6mm thick, and has an internal loop diameter of 6.4mm. At the top of the inner face of the bell is a small broken copper alloy lug. This may be all that remains of a suspension loop for a clapper. This clapper may well have been made or iron as the inner face is a mid orange colour. The bell weighs 66.54 grams.
The lower part of the bell is decorated with a series of crude pierced and cast motifs. These are arranged in a series of three concentric bands. On the lowest band are fourteen evenly (approximately) spaced sub rectangular diamond shaped indentations and perforations. At the widest part of each diamond (ie at the horizontal corners) is a cast lug or boss. The second row of perforations are also diamond shaped, however, these are off-set from the first so that they tessellate. Again there are fourteen perforations and fourteen knobs. The fourteen knobs are arranged at the widest part of the second row of diamonds and at the apex of the diamond in the first row. The third and final row of perforations are similarly offset and the knobs are located at the apex of the second row. Again there are fourteen perforations and fourteen knobs. This pattern forms a lattice work. However, not all the diamond shapes are perforated and those that are pierced are not regular or even. One section of this design is not pierced at all. This maybe due to the wall of the bell being much thicker at this point (4.1mm rather than 3.4mm). The knobs or bosses are also uneven varying in both diameter and thickness (maximum 4.3mm diameter minimum 2.8mm).
The bell is a dark green brown colour with a highly polished even patina which covers all surfaces. This patina has been slightly abraded in the plough soil and some of the decoration has been worn. There is also a large amount of mid orange brown corrosion present. This is mostly on the inside of the bell but is also evident on the decoration and other areas. This corrosion deposit might be due to the original presence of an iron clapper; however, it could also be a result of the depositional environment.
No close parallels have been found for this bell, hence the large medieval date range of 950 - 1500 AD. | Format: | text/html | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Publisher: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Rights holder: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Subjects: | archaeology | Temporal: | 950
1500 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Peter Reavill | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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