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https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png UKDFD Recording Software https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/ Keys https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/early-medieval/keys.html Key https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/early-medieval/keys/key-55639.html Sat, 10 Oct 2020 14:13:04 GMT Keys Key  
Description: A cast copper-alloy chest or casket key dating circa 10th to 12th century AD. The key has an open teardrop-shaped bow and a short hollow-ended shank. The bit is of L-shaped cross-section with a circular central perforation and warding in the limbs. It is of London Museum Medieval Catalogue Type IA  (see References below).

Cf. PAS: HAMP-3F45D1
Category: Early Medieval, Keys
Category: Keys
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Key https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/early-medieval/keys/key-6834.html Sun, 22 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT Keys Key  
Description: A copper-alloy key, probably of the Anglo-Saxon period. The bow is flat and of elongated oval shape, and has a transverse suspension loop. It is decorated on both faces with ring-and-dot motifs in an orderly linear arrangement along the centres and sides. The bit is at a right-angle to the bow and has a single notch.

PAS KENT-4ADCB5 is of very similar type, but lacks any decoration.
Category: Early Medieval, Keys
Category: Keys
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Key https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/early-medieval/keys/key-9748.html Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Keys Key  
Description: A copper-alloy key of the Anglo-Saxon period. The bow is of a flat oval shape and has a transverse suspension loop.

Cf. PAS: KENT-4ADCB5

The example referenced below is of very similar type, and the author states that it is likely to date from the 8th century. He also comments that "After the Romans had left Britain, the use of bronze keys did not reoccur until the 8th century."
Category: Early Medieval, Keys
Category: Keys
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Key https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/early-medieval/keys/key-4266.html Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT Keys Key  
Description: A copper-alloy key of the Anglo-Saxon period, with flat circular bow, cylindrical stem with pipe end, and long, narrow bit with lateral wards. The form of the key is typical of the period, and the relatively long stem may indicate a fairly late date.
Category: Early Medieval, Keys
Category: Keys
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Key https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/early-medieval/keys/key-11495.html Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Keys Key  
Description: An Anglo-Saxon copper-alloy key with flat circular bow and short sub-rectangular section stem.

Cf. UKDFD 4266
Category: Early Medieval, Keys
Category: Keys
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Key https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/early-medieval/keys/key-11509.html Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Keys Key  
Description: A large iron key with a triangular bow, probably dating to the the late Anglo-Saxon period. The key is complete, but bent at the centre.

The closest parallel found, in terms of shape, is a copper-alloy key illustrated in Benet's Catalogue (see ref.1 below) and assigned to the Anglo-Saxon period. A similar example in iron, which differs only in that it has a rounded top to the bow, is illustrated in the London Museum Catalogue 1940 (see ref.2 below), where it is dated between the pre-Conquest period and the end of the 12th century. The finder of the present key also notes that it was "found on a site where only late Anglo-Saxon artefacts have been found".
Category: Early Medieval, Keys
Category: Keys
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Key https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/early-medieval/keys/key-13713.html Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Keys Key  
Description: A cast copper-alloy key, probably for a casket lock. It has a large circular bow with an openwork design consisting of four equally spaced inward-facing fleurs-de-lis. Each face of the bow is also punched with a ring of motifs in the form of pairs of opposing triangles. The shank is very short, and has incised linear decoration, but this is very worn. The bit is symmetrical with a cleft at each end and a moulded cylindrical nose.

Discussion re dating
The key is a decorated variety of London Museum Medieval Catalogue, 1940, Type IB (see Ref.(1)), of which the author comments:
"Type I is a pre-conquest form of key, which continued in use in the early Middle Ages....Archaeologically dated specimens are rare, but a number of the more elaborate examples can probably be assigned to the 11th or 12th centuries, and it may be doubted whether in this country, at any rate, they were current much earlier."

However, generally similar keys, which would also fall within the ‘Type I’ classification, are dated between the 8th and 10th century in Ref.(2), and at the other extreme, the closest parallel traced, Ref.(3), is dated 12th – 13th century. The potential date range is therefore very large, at least spanning the period circa 9th - 12th century.
Category: Early Medieval, Keys
Category: Keys
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Key https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/early-medieval/keys/key-15197.html Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Keys Key  
Description: A cast copper-alloy object of a type that is popularly described as a 'Viking key' for a slide lock. This identification, however, is unconfirmed by any contextual evidence.

Cf. PAS: WILT-CFE431
Category: Early Medieval, Keys
Category: Keys
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Key https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/early-medieval/keys/key-20260.html Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT Keys Key  
Description: A copper-alloy key of the Anglo-Saxon period. The bow is of a flat sub-circular shape and has a transverse suspension loop. The key is severely corroded and the suspension loop is incomplete.

The similar example referenced below is described by the author as likely to date from the 8th century. He also comments that "After the Romans had left Britain, the use of bronze keys did not reoccur until the 8th century."
Category: Early Medieval, Keys
Category: Keys
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Key https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/early-medieval/keys/key-24208.html Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT Keys Key  
Description: A copper-alloy key of the Anglo-Saxon period. The solid bow is of flat, ovoid shape, and has a transverse suspension loop at the top. The shank is of circular cross-section and has a pipe end. The bit is of the usual long, slender shape, and projects at right angles from the shank in the same plane as the bow.

The similar example referenced below is described by the author as likely to date from the 8th century. He also comments that "After the Romans had left Britain, the use of bronze keys did not reoccur until the 8th century."
Category: Early Medieval, Keys
Category: Keys
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