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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/ Miscellaneous https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous.html Scabbard Chape https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/scabbard-chape-57448.html Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:42:53 GMT Miscellaneous Scabbard Chape  
Description: A large sword scabbard chape dating to the Late Iron Age period. The chape is approximately half complete, once having two side arms that were bridged together at the top to create an ovoid open centre. The surviving arm part is decorated with two moulded transverse ridges below a flared terminal, and the base part is decorated with a longitudinal central groove to both sides, which sits within a pair of projecting moulded lips. The inside surface is deeply grooved for attachment purposes and the outer surface has a rich brown patina.

The chape would have fitted, likely soldered, onto the end of a sheet-bronze scabbard to protect and strengthen its terminal. See UKDFD 52532 for a scabbard terminal of a style that the chape would have been fitted to, and also UKDFD 20652 & HAMP-B4AF1F, as similar style chapes.

The below reference assembles together elaborate openwork chapes from the north of England, all with matching scabbards in the La Tène style, and dated to the later Iron Age period. (Notably recovered from burials at Bugthorpe & Grimthorpe Hillfort, Yorkshire). See British Museum collection; Bugthorpe & Grimthorpe Hillfort swords.
 
Category: Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category: Miscellaneous
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Ring https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/ring-57410.html Fri, 19 May 2023 16:34:23 GMT Miscellaneous Ring  
Description: A cast copper-alloy ring, probably dating from the Iron Age to Roman period, although an earlier date is plausible. The ring is generally D-shaped in cross section, with lipped open ends. The internal diameter appears to be consistent, although the outer surface is irregular.

The function and dating of simple bronze rings recovered out of a secure context is problematic. Dating is tentatively made on general form related to other recorded examples, as well as overall wear and patination. The object is most likely a ring made for generic employment rather than a purposefully made finger ring, but its exact function remains uncertain. The present consensus believes that these medium sized rings are likely harness or suspension related. See also; UKDFD 56603KENT-84ED83 & KENT-97DC41 as generally similar.
 
Category: Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category: Miscellaneous
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Pin https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/pin-57114.html Sat, 07 Jan 2023 11:45:15 GMT Miscellaneous Pin  
Description: An incomplete cruciform-headed copper-alloy dress pin dating from the middle Iron Age to early Roman period. The flat head of the pin has four lateral sub-oval knops and a lozenge-shaped centre. Below the head is a waisted spool-shaped section and a plain bead moulding. From the base, a short length of the circular-section shaft survives, and is bent through approximately 90 degrees, but broken on the curve. 

The pin is characteristic of a type with origins to the middle Iron Age, see; UKDFD 56066 and associated attachments. The addition of spool and bead mouldings, however, may suggest a later development, or an adaptation of this type incorporating new Roman influence (SF-B827B8). The fact the pin shaft is still sharply curved below the base of the head, however, would appear to confirm its manufacture in Celtic British culture.

 
Category: Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category: Miscellaneous
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Arrowhead https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/arrowhead-57020.html Sun, 23 Oct 2022 15:30:50 GMT Miscellaneous Arrowhead  
Description: A small cast copper alloy arrowhead, possibly dating from the Iron Age to Roman period. The head has three projecting fins, equally spaced around a circular central socket with a singular rivet hole for shaft attachment. The head tapers from the hollow socket end to a solid sharp point.

Of the period concerned, this small form of tri-finned arrowhead, especially manufactured in copper alloy, would appear to be a very rare artefact found within the British Isles. Due to lack of published and found material, a tentative and broad timeframe has been given. Of what is available to compare with, it is noted that similar examples have been excavated in the Mediterranean and also from Eastern Europe, and date from the Iron Age to Roman period.

A similar arrowhead found in Suffolk is recorded on the PAS database; SF-1D1A06. See also UKDFD 48364
Category: Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category: Miscellaneous
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Harness fitting https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/harness-fitting-56616.html Tue, 25 Jan 2022 16:21:44 GMT Miscellaneous Harness fitting  
Description: A miniature copper-alloy ring of the late Iron Age to early Roman period, most likely a harness fitting. The hoop is circular in plan and cross-section, it has two opposing moulded, lentoid knops projecting obliquely from the sides, each one having an incised ring of decoration. The knops are flanked each side by curvilinear grooves emerging from the internal surface of the hoop to merge on the external surface, thus creating a triangle, this is mostly obscured by pitting on the surface.
Category: Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category: Miscellaneous
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Bead https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/bead-24200.html Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT Miscellaneous Bead  
Description: A cast copper alloy ovoid bead, probably dating from the late Iron Age to Roman period, although an earlier date is plausible. The bead is symmetrical, with lipped open ends and a circumferential band around the centre. See also; ESS-FAFDF4, as similar.
Category: Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category: Miscellaneous
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Ring https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/ring-56603.html Mon, 17 Jan 2022 20:14:52 GMT Miscellaneous Ring  
Description: A cast copper-alloy ring, probably dating from the Iron Age to Roman period, although an earlier date is plausible. The ring is symmetrical, with lipped open ends and a central circumferential rib.

The artefact appears too large to be a bead, although similarities in design can be noted with; UKDFD 24200. The object is most likely a ring of generic employment, but its exact function is uncertain. Possibly harness or suspension related. See also; BERK-E59256 & KENT-84ED83 as generally similar. See notes relating to objects patination on below PAS record.
Category: Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category: Miscellaneous
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Bead https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/bead-56604.html Mon, 17 Jan 2022 20:34:52 GMT Miscellaneous Bead  
Description: A cast copper alloy ovoid bead, probably dating from the late Iron Age to Roman period, although an earlier date is plausible. The bead is symmetrical, with lipped open ends and a central circumferential rib.

See also; UKDFD 24200, UKDFD 43887 & ESS-FAFDF4 as generally similar.
Category: Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category: Miscellaneous
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Arrowhead or Spearhead https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/arrowhead-or-spearhead-56100.html Mon, 24 May 2021 14:35:08 GMT Miscellaneous Arrowhead or Spearhead  
Description: An incomplete socketed arrowhead, or possibly a small spearhead tentatively dated to the Iron Age or Roman period. The solid lanceolate leaf-shaped blade has a central longitudinal mid-rib, giving a lozengiform cross-section. The tip is missing, and the socketed attachment end is broken a short distance below the base of the blade.

Note on dating. The size of the blade is consistent with some arrowheads, but its weight could also suggest employment on a lightweight throwing spear. The overall shape of the blade is not consistent with Bronze Age examples, and after this period, iron was predominantly chosen due to increased ore availability. Bronze socketed spearheads of similar blade size and form however, although very scarce, are documented as being used during the Roman occupation period. The incompleteness of the socketed end does unfortunately cause further difficulties in finding comparisons. For this reason, a broad and tentative date range has been given.
Category: Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category: Miscellaneous
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Pin https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/v46/artefact/iron-age/miscellaneous/pin-56066.html Wed, 05 May 2021 11:23:18 GMT Miscellaneous Pin  
Description: An incomplete cruciform-headed copper-alloy dress pin of the Middle Iron Age. The head of the pin is moulded in the form of a globular bead with four lateral sub-oval knops located at the cardinal points around its circumference. Below the head, and separated from it by a plain waisted section, there is another bead moulding of similar size, but without appendages. Projecting below the lower bead, a short length of the circular-section shaft survives. It is bent through approximately 90 degrees, but broken on the curve. 

Cf. PAS: YORYM-4FB742WMID-791C77SWYOR-37CFEA and NARC-BF08EF.
For a stylistically comparable brooch, see UKDFD 4413.
Category: Iron Age, Miscellaneous
Category: Miscellaneous
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