https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/miscellaneous.html https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/miscellaneous/cross-59153.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:11:33 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		An incomplete cast lead cross with moulded decoration on both sides. The horizontal arms of the cross expand radially and have convex ends, whereas the vertical arms taper slightly and continuously from the top of the cross to the bottom. The lower vertical arm is longer than the other three, but broken across a hole near its bottom end. One side of the cross is decorated on the three uppermost arms with rosettes of pellets within circles, and on the lower vertical arm with a herringbone design. The other side depicts a crudely moulded figure with outstretched arms. The figure is depicted in a relaxed posture with elbows bent and feet apart, so it seems unlikely that the intention was to portray a crucifixion scene (cf. crucifix, UKDFD 38298). A more likely possibility is that the figure represents a saint, as is the case with several of the generally similar crosses illustrated in the article cited in References below. The broken hole at the bottom of the cross suggests that it was attached to a cord or chain, possibly secured in turn to the owner's belt. Unless a suspension loop has been lost from the top of the cross, it is less likely that it was worn as a pendant around the neck, as the figure would be displayed upside down. The belief that the wearing or carrying of religious symbols protected against evil was strongly held, and the practice would have been particularly prevalent at the time of the Black Death, when there was a heightened fear of infection and death.
Category:		Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/miscellaneous/pin-head-59023.html Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:56:48 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A cast lead or lead-alloy pin head of the medieval period. The head is of slightly elongated sexfoil shape in plan with an umbonate front face and a flatter back face, both with moulded decoration in high relief. The front face has a raised border that defines the sexfoil, and a concentric arrangement of pellets within. There are six pellets within the lobes of the sexfoil, a further six around the base of the dome, and possibly a single pellet at the centre. There was originally an additional pellet in each of the two lobes on the longitudinal axis, but one of these is now missing (see below). The back face has a raised circle around a central boss. The socket for the shaft of the copper-alloy or iron pin was moulded on the back of a lobe on the longitudinal axis of the sexfoil, but most of this, including the shaft, has broken off and is now missing. See also PAS: SWYOR-CD9FC0, LON-F98353 and NLM-453E35
Category:		Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/miscellaneous/staff-terminal-59004.html Tue, 11 Nov 2025 19:56:55 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		An incomplete decorative staff terminal dating to the Anglo-Norman period. The fragment consists of the tubular socketted end fitting only, which is perforated with four equally spaced sub-triangular apertures. The specific function of these terminals is still uncertain. They are usually discovered near churches or other religious buildings, thus suggesting an ecclesiastical connection. Whilst there are some lesser recorded examples that have two diametrically opposed holes in the socket that still retain a singular pin; UKDFD 56751 & SUR-5F10C3, others have four equally spaced circular holes on the same plane making this riveting method improbable; UKDFD 4572. Only examples with two circular holes are presently recorded with rivets or pins in situ. Examples with larger sub-square or triangular apertures, often showing little wear, are also recorded, See NLM-74B800 & GLO-B71FB0. Present identifications range from staff heads, to terminals or finials from other ornamental ecclesiastical furniture. A possibility is that they were used as aspergilla. The "aspergill" was a short-handled device with a perforated globe at one end, containing a sponge or other porous material, which was used for sprinkling holy water. It is interesting to note, however, that the examination of SUR-5F10C3 reports a textile, possibly rope remains, still in situ and suggests the object could have formed a 'hanging' terminal, possibly a weighted dress accessory. Also noting UKDFD 56751, the upper section being non-perforated and so making its employment as an aspergill impossible. It is likely then, that these artefacts of similar appearance currently grouped as 'Staff Terminal', may have been matching ecclesiastical objects with differing uses. Taking this present information into consideration, examples with four or more decorative geometric apertures in the socketed end, in some cases, may have been similarly tied, or alternatively glued in place.
Category:		Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/miscellaneous/sheet-metal-rivet-59001.html Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:53:21 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A folded sheet copper-alloy rivet of a type used to repair splits in sheet-metal vessels. The rivet has been made from an irregularly cut, lozenge-shaped plate, each end of which has been folded in two places to create a rivet with a sub-rectangular shape in plan, a back-to-back Z-shaped cross-section, and two opposing sub-triangular tabs (one now broken off). Similar examples have been found in contexts that date from the early 12th to the late 16th century, but they are most prevalent in the 15th and 16th centuries. Details of the way in which they were made and used can be found in the reference shown below. See also UKDFD 57762 and PAS: OXON-AE4E7D:
Category:		Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/miscellaneous/nail-58945.html Wed, 22 Oct 2025 18:13:28 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A large forged iron nail with a large, flat, sub-circular head. The shank is mainly of sub-square cross-section and tapers along its full length to a blunt point. A short length immediately below the head, however, is round. The nail was possibly made for retaining material of some sort in sheet form, possibly lead or hide. See also PAS: NLM-B6DF1A, dated circa 1200-1500.
Category:		Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/miscellaneous/sub-square-studs-58923.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 13:26:51 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		Two small sub-square wrought iron studs, one with a short pointed shank and one with an incomplete shank. The studs have been hammered to each corner which creates a raised central diamond shape. The short shanks suggest probable door studs. There is a red substance on the surfaces, which may be paint. Note A number of larger studs have also been found within the area, and these have much longer shanks. See also PAS: NLM-48D418.
Category:		Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/miscellaneous/bridle-bit-58922.html Sun, 12 Oct 2025 11:22:19 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		One half of an iron snaffle bit of probable medieval date. The bit consists of a simple ring-type cheek-piece and one link of an ordinary two-link mouth-piece. Interestingly, a similar object found on the same site over two years earlier is recorded as UKDFD 57462. Although the two objects are closely similar in most respects, the length of their respective link bars differs by about 28mm, which would seem rather a large difference for them to be two parts of the same bridle bit. They are, however, shown conjoined as Image 5.
Category:		Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/miscellaneous/reliquary-pendant-tau-cross-58906.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:04:36 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A gold religious reliquary pendant in the form of a Tau cross, so named for its similarity to the letter Tau, which is the nineteenth letter of the Greek alphabet and also the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This style of pendant is also known as Saint Anthony's cross. It is three-dimensional, T-shaped in form, and has expanded, concave arms and stem, all with flared, pointed terminals. It has an integral suspension loop that has one large link, and two small links, (one of which is broken) attached to it. The foot is pierced through the side panels to accommodate the gold wire looped pin (the opposing loop is now missing); each loop probably held a small gold bell. A fine line is visible around the side panels between the front and back plates, indicating that the cross was meant to open. Opening the object has not been attempted. The Tau cross was the personal symbol of St. Anthony the Great, the founder of Christian Monasticism. Over time, it became tied to the Franciscan Order and Saint Francis of Assisi, who embraced it as the symbol of humility and faith.
Category:		Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/miscellaneous/bridle-bit-fragment-58852.html Sat, 13 Sep 2025 17:58:26 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A small detached part of a wrought iron curb bit of late medieval to early post-medieval date. The part consists of three separate elements, the largest of which is now incomplete and damaged but identifiable as the shank end of one of the two cheekpieces. It is shaped somewhat like the letter 'P', but with the top of the loop detached from the stem. The lower, curved portion of the loop incorporates two pierced roundels, the outermost one of which retains the second element of the assembly. This second element is a closed swivel hook, the form of which is closely similar to several copper-alloy specimens recorded on the database (e.g. UKDFD 26487). The third element is a plain circular ring, which is suspended from the closed swivel hook and for attachment of the reins. Image 3 shows a complete curb bit of generally similar type with the location of the part corresponding to the present find indicated by an arrow. From the illustration of the complete bit, it can be seen that the second pierced roundel on the shank end was for the attachment of a chain that linked the two cheekpieces.
Category:		Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

]]> https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/medieval/miscellaneous/casket-handle-terminal-58327.html Sat, 09 Nov 2024 22:37:29 GMT Miscellaneous  

Description:		A zoomorphic copper-alloy terminal for a casket or chest handle. The terminal is moulded in the form of a stylised animal head and has a tapered hole through the centre for attachment to one of the handle-ends. The fitting of terminals to each end of the handle limited axial movement and prevented the ends from coming out of the lugs attached to the casket. A similar terminal with part of the handle attached is recorded as UKDFD 27004.
Category:		Medieval, Miscellaneous
Category:		Miscellaneous

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