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Description: | Viking cast lead-alloy trade weight dating from the early medieval period, that is the 9th or 10th century.The weight comprises a cut fragment of ornamental cast copper alloy metalwork (possibly gilt) set into a lead base. The item appears complete. It is of flat cubic shape with the ornamental copper alloy inset covering all of the upper surface. There is a circular piece of copper-alloy sticking out of the lower surface, but this may have been the spike of the copper alloy mount which was hammered flat against the surface of the square lead weight. The decoration of the copper alloy piece is simple: a small square surrounded by four L-shapes with arms of equal length. The interior of the smaller geometrical shapes is scratched/roughened up, possibly to receive and hold enamel. A very similar lead weight from Cardiff (NMGW-07268F) depicts the same ornament, though a different arrangement of it.Weights in the Viking period are believed to have been used for weighing precious metals while trading. Corrosion and some peripheral loss, together with differing systems of weighing now make it difficult to suggest an original unit weight. This decorative motif on the mount set into the weight can be closely paralleled another lead weight from near Cardiff (NMGW-07268F) as well as other object from Wales. The entry for the lead weight from Cardiff mentions two examples from Anglesey, one of which was found on the early medieval enclosed settlement near Llanbedrgoch on Anglesey (Redknap, 2007, p. 78, no 43) , the other example from Brynsiencyn (Redknap, 2007, p. 78, no 42). Both examples are ascribed a 10th century date and are decorated with a single central square, flanked on each corner with L-shaped cells.Bibliography: Redknap, M.; 2007; Crossing Bounderies; Proceedings of the XIIth International Congres of Celtic Studies 24-30 August, 2003, University of Wales, Aberystwyth; CMCS 53/54
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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