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Description: | An incomplete copper alloy, swivelling harness hook or fitting and associated fitting, of uncertain dating but probably Medieval to Post Medieval in dating (13th to 17th Centuries AD).The artefact has two separate elements: a hook, and associated fitting. Neither are complete. The hook consists of a domed (conical) terminal knop with a rounded top and a flattened base. Beneath the base of the knop is an integral hook, with a square shaped section throughout its length. It is flat on the inner face. The tip is incomplete.The associated fitting consists of an oval upper section, and curved lower section. The lower section was broadly U shaped, with the end turning out at a right angle. One side of the lower section is missing. Filemarks are present on the internal surfaces. All of it has a lozenge shaped cross section. The hook has been inserted through the top of the oval upper section.In total, it measures 114.6 mm in length, 54.0 mm wide and 12.5 mm thick. It weighs 47.3 g. The hook measures 37.8 mm in length, 21.2 mm wide and 8.3 mm thick. The associated fitting measures 85.6 mm in length, 54.0 mm wide and 6.0 mm thick.The harness fitting and hook are a mid green to brown colour, with an uneven surface patina. Abrasion, caused by movement whilst within the plough soil, has resulted in the loss of some of the original surface detail.Several harness hooks have been recorded on the PAS database, including SOM-23D494, NMS-2D1545, SF-828FB7, IOW-3c46c7 and IOW-14E414. These have been identified as swivelling harness hooks / fittings as they are similar to those published by Read (1995, 67-68, #362-364. However another similar hook, made from iron, with conical knop was present in a suspension chain belonging to a copper alloy cooking vessel (Egan, 1998, 179, #499). It is probable that this style of hook was multifunctional, serving a variety of purposes. Reference:Egan, G. 1998a The Medieval Household Daily Living c. 1150-c. 1450. Museum of London. Medieval Finds from Excavations in London.Egan, G. 1998b. Miscellaneous household equipment: Kitchen and tableware, storage and other vessels, urinals. In Egan, G. 1998aRead, B. 1995. History Beneath Our Feet. Anglia Publishing. Ipswich.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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VESSEL
An incomplete Medieval cast copper-alloy…
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