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Description: | A complete copper alloy tag from a surveyor's chain, of Post Medieval to Modern dating (AD 1579 to AD 1950).The tag is D-shaped in plan with thick sections cut away to make three wide triangular prongs. The sides of the object curve round to form the D-shape before curving upwards to create a knop with a circular perforation which would have acted as a suspension loop as there is a break in it. The suspension loop has an internal diameter of 5.33 mm. The tag is undecorated on both sides.It measures 36.82 mm in length, 33.35 mm wide and 3.39 mm thick. It weighs 6.2 g.The tag is a dark green colour, with an even surface patina.This tag is from a surveyor's chain, commonly known as a Gunter's chain. Gunter's chains were originally used for land survey. They comprised a series of 100 links which stretched 66 feet. The surveying chain was marked at every 10 links by tags or tallies; at 10 links a single pointed tag, at 20 links a double pointed tag and so forth. This tag would have been located at the 30 link marker. These chains were based on an ancient measure of the breadth of a furrow or plough strip.A chain composed of 100 links is 66 feet, the exact measure between the stumps of a cricket pitch and it was also used to measure this. The use of a Gunter's chain iwas first recorded in AD 1579 and was in common use until the advent of the steel tape in AD 1867.Several similar tags have been recorded on the PAS database. SWYOR-2F7CF1 would have been at the 20 link position, SUSS-402DE5 and LANCUM-E57545 are direct parallels, also being located at the 30 link position. KENT-31E9F4, LANCUM-2DAF93 and DUR-5258B0 would have been at the 40 link position.
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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