https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/unidentifiedundated-artefacts.html https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/unidentifiedundated-artefacts/unidentified-object-59134.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 14:31:37 GMT Unidentified/undated artefacts  

Description:		An unidentified object, possibly waste material from a copper-alloy casting. The object is  of cruciform shape with irregular triangular-section arms and a circular boss at the centre. One side of the object is as-cast and the other side is flat with a central recess and lathe-tool marks present across the entire surface.
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/unidentifiedundated-artefacts/plinth-for-statuette-59090.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 16:21:31 GMT Unidentified/undated artefacts  

Description:		A cast lead or lead-alloy plinth for a statuette. The plinth is sub-rectangular in plan and consists of a solid cushion-shaped platform and a shallow, more rectangular, base of smaller dimensions. The plinth has traces of red paint and rust staining, and the top of the platform has marks caused by the statuette's removal. The recorder notes that there is a suspected Roman temple in close proximity on Blue Bell Hill.
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/unidentifiedundated-artefacts/human-hand-sculpture-59032.html Sun, 23 Nov 2025 11:50:43 GMT Unidentified/undated artefacts  

Description:		A naturalistic miniature copper-alloy sculpture of a human hand. The hand is depicted with a limp wrist and relaxed finger muscles. There is one hole in the truncation of the wrist and another offset to one side of the palm, both probably for mounting the hand. The little finger is incomplete. The human hand has provided a source of inspiration for sculptors, and artists more generally, from the period of classical antiquity to the present day. In the absence of any context relating to the present find, therefore, it isn't possible to date it with any confidence.
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/unidentifiedundated-artefacts/gold-ingot-of-uncertain-date-58907.html Wed, 01 Oct 2025 17:39:01 GMT Unidentified/undated artefacts  

Description:		An incomplete gold ingot of uncertain age. The ingot is D-shaped in cross-section and sub-rectangular in plan with one smooth rounded end, as cast, and one transversely broken end with a rough fracture surface. See also UKDFD 14963.
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/unidentifiedundated-artefacts/gold-ring-58900.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 15:17:23 GMT Unidentified/undated artefacts  

Description:		A very small gold-coloured ring, possibly a child's finger ring or a component part of an earring or other item of jewellery. The ring has been made by twisting a thin strip of metal to create a uniform barley-twist effect for its full length. The strip has then been formed into a ring and soldered at the joint. There are no quality or maker's marks present, but the metal has the appearance of high-carat gold. The date of the ring is uncertain.
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/unidentifiedundated-artefacts/unidentified-artefact-58829.html Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:31:16 GMT Unidentified/undated artefacts  

Description:		An incomplete and unidentified cast copper-alloy object somewhat resembling a double-sided strap-end of the Early Medieval period. The object is of flat rectangular cross-section and uniform thickness. It consists of a larger trapezoidal 'upper' section and a smaller, possibly zoomorphic, 'lower' section. Both sides of the upper section have similar incised foliate decoration in the form of a central plant-stem flanked symmetrically by two long fronds conjoined at the base. The lower section is possibly a stylised animal-head terminal. The object is broken at both ends and there is iron rust on one side of the lower section.
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/unidentifiedundated-artefacts/unidentified-artefact-58777.html Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:28:57 GMT Unidentified/undated artefacts  

Description:		An unidentified hollow spherical object somewhat resembling a small crotal bell. The object has a prominent D-section midrib, which appears to have been made separately and soldered around two conjoined hemispheres to produce a sphere with a reinforced joint. The ends of the midrib originally extended radially outwards to form a suspension loop, but only the two stubs survive. Between the stubs, there is a round hole in the sphere, which had allowed the ingress of soil. This was carefully removed, but no metal 'pea' was present. One of the hemispheres is slightly crushed and there are two very small corroded holes in the midrib.
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/unidentifiedundated-artefacts/unidentified-artefact-58756.html Mon, 11 Aug 2025 18:40:04 GMT Unidentified/undated artefacts  

Description:		An incomplete lead or lead alloy object. The surviving part has the initial appearance of a fantastical creature, but it is most likely part of a larger cast frame with foliate curlicue projections. Likely to be furniture related. See also; LIN-15EFE1, which would appear to be cast in the same form.
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/unidentifiedundated-artefacts/gold-ingot-of-uncertain-date-58487.html Mon, 10 Mar 2025 12:13:49 GMT Unidentified/undated artefacts  

Description:		A gold ingot in the form of a bar of very irregular, but generally sub-rectangular cross-section. The four sides of the bar show signs of hammering to a greater or lesser degree, and there is some splitting or cracking of the surface. Both ends of the bar are rounded. In the absence of any associated objects, crudely formed ingots of this sort are difficult to date, but are often associated with the Viking era of circa AD 800-1050. Such attribution is based on the fact that trade during this period was often facilitated using bullion by weight, rather than coinage by denomination. However, there is nothing to corroborate such an attribution in the present case.  See also UKDFD 14963.
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/unidentifiedundated-artefacts/unidentified-artefact-58466.html Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:58:00 GMT Unidentified/undated artefacts  

Description:		An incomplete copper-alloy object, probably dating to the early or middle Anglo-Saxon period. The surviving part is loosely U-shaped, but broken at different points along the two limbs. It is fabricated from two parts, a flat U-shaped element and a hollow, but blind-ended, sub-conical attachment soldered to the front at the mid-point of the curvature. Both parts were probably cast, but the sub-conical attachment may have been formed to shape after casting. The decoration of both parts consists of multiple compass-scribed ring-and dot motifs. The shape of the missing part of the object is uncertain. For a generally comparable (but also unidentified) object, see PAS: BUC-4DE6AB.
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts
Category:		Unidentified/undated artefacts

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