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Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy sword pommel of later Iron Age to Early Roman date, probably from the 1st century AD (1 AD - 100 AD).The artefact is irregular in plan and profile; it is formed from a central rectangular vertical tube-like element (sub-rectangular in cross section at the narrower end and oval at the wider end) from which two centrally positioned triangular "wings" project.Only one wing survives intact. It is made up from two integral struts projecting from the central tube, and a large thick roundel at their apex. This roundel or lobe is integrally cast and is decorated on both faces with a deep circular groove. The wing may have originally been open work, forming a triangular loop, but the centre is now filled with corrosion products, or thinner metal. The broken wing shows that the struts are green coloured internally, whereas the area between them is orange.The other two main faces of the tube are also decorated. A matching, integral roundel projects near the wider end of the tube. The tube part of the object is filled with a hard orange material. It looks like iron, but is not magnetic. It may be corrosion products or may be another material intentionally positioned there. The core is slightly recessed at ecah end of the tube. The walls of the tube are about 2mm - 2.5mm thick at the narrower end. There is a thicker collar round the wider end making the walls here 3.4mm - 5.6mm thick. There is no evidence of attachment on the object, which has a smooth dark brown patina, except where chipped or broken, where the metal appears grey green. It is 31.3mm long, 34.8mm wide, 18.2mm thick and 36.12g.Compare HESH-A953C7 which is a late Iron Age to early Roman sword pommel recorded on the database and verified by Adam Gwilt. The record notes that: "Similar pommels with decorative bossed roundels are known from Wetwang Slack and Wanborough and illustrated in I.M.Stead (2006) British Iron Age Swords and Scabbards, London: British Museum Press, (Cats 173-4 & 220). These are broadly dated to the end of the Iron Age, specifically the period 100 BC - 100 AD."Adam Gwilt has also commented on this record: He suggests: "the square recess is probably where the top of the sword tang once inserted - a square to rectangular profile of this size is consistent with an Iron Age sword. The circular depression at the opposite end could possibly have been embellished with a separate possibly decorated domed knob attached, or perhaps a roundel inset of enamel decoration".He also comments that: "In terms of form, a short armed pommel with central stem can be paralleled amongst some of the East Yorkshire swords - e.g. Kirkburn, Wetwang Slack and anthropomorphic pommels e.g. North Grimston & Clotherholme, both N. Yorks. The Wanborough, Surrey pommel is also of similar form. It is interesting that a sword with a horn hilt end from Garton Station, East Yorks also has lateral widenings or nascent arms near the pommel end."He adds: "Decorative roundels, sometimes with ring and dot motifs, and positioned in three or four roundel clusters are also common motifs on Iron Age sword pommels and hilt guards - with parallels including Bryher, Scilly, Kirkburn, East Yorks, Wetwang Slack, East Yorks, Thorpe Hall, Rudston & Rudston East Yorks, Asby Scar, Cumbria, Warton, Lancashire. It is worth noting the number of Northern British swords within these parallels."Finally, in terms of dating, he says: "While it is difficult to be certain, from pommel alone, whether this is an early or late sword, I would tend towards the likelihood of it being late and dating to the first century AD, on the grounds of the integral cast moulding of the pommel with ring and dot roundel motifs as one. Earlier swords tend to have separate large headed roundels, whereas the later Northern British swords tend to have complex cast pommels and guards, containing integral decorative devices. The moulded casting of this pommel echoes the technique on the Asby Scar and Warton swords, to my mind."
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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