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Description: | A lead seal matrix dating to the medieval period. The seal is oval in plan and has a recessed fleur-de-lis in the centre. Each leaf is oval in plan. There is a pellet in each exterior angle. The inscription around it reads: + S' hERIC AVOnAVLAM; with the intial A and V conjoined. The letter 'n' in the last word is less likely to be the letter 'h' due to the lack of the curved end of the downstroke as seen in hERIC.Irene Szymanski writes:The last letter might be a place name starting "Avon"; this is an old Celtic word meaning "river" found in various places in the country. The second part of the word could then be "avlam", or possibly "aulam". "Aula" is the Latin for "dwelling", so perhaps it indicates Heric River-Dwelling, or Heric who lives on the river? Heric might be an abbreviation of the Anglo-Saxon name Hereric - some Anglo-Saxon names hung on in some areas of the country - whilst the second part of his name might have been created for him or one of his ancestors. This seal was discovered near Horncastle, a town set on the River Bain.
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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