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Metalwork Assessment

Cecily Spall

introduction | assessment | catalogues | recommendations

1.0 INTRODUCTION

A large assemblage of metalwork was submitted for assessment and conservation. The assemblage consisted of 1, 364 items of iron, copper-alloy, lead, lead-alloy, silver and composite objects. The assemblage was submitted for x-ray and assessment in accordance with guidelines set out by English Heritage (MAP2 1991). X-rays were undertaken on behalf of Field Archaeology Specialists by Karen Barker Antiquities Conservation. The objects were x-rayed at 110kv for one minute. Full identification of the objects was undertaken by examining the x-ray plates on a light box colour corrected to 5000k. All the ironwork is packaged in polythene 'Stewart' boxes with silica gel to provide a dry micro-environment of less than 15% relative humidity which should prevent further corrosion of iron finds. The non-ferrous metalwork is packaged in an appropriate dry micro-environment according to guidelines set out in First Aid For Finds (Neal and Watkinson 1999). Selective conservation has been undertaken on objects that were identified as in need of stabilisation. Further investigative or entire cleaning has been undertaken for the purposes of identification and illustration. All coins have been cleaned and stabilised; all blades have undergone targeted cleaning for the purpose of illustration.

2.0 ASSESSMENT

The assemblage included a wide range of objects including dress accessories, craft-working tools and waste products and structural metalwork:

16 coins
23 blades
110 craft-working tools and waste products
58 dress accessories
2 toilet implements
45 pieces of horse equipment
1105 items of structural ironwork being 428 flat-headed nails, 42 headless nails, 16 small dome-headed nails, 32 large dome headed nails, 6 rectangular staples, 9 U-shaped staples, 11 roves, 5 clench bolts, 4 hinges, 7 hinge pivots, 544 broken undiagnostic nails, and 1 rivet
4 projectile weapons
29 miscellaneous items

2.1 ROMAN

An iron brooch pin and three small unidentified copper-alloy coins of small denomination are likely to date to the Roman period.

2.2 ANGLIAN

Dress accessories and coins were securely dated to the Anglian period. Other craft-working items, such as shears, spindlewhorls, knives and punches are highly likely to be Anglian although their form is not diagnostic.

2.3 MEDIEVAL

The bulk of the assemblage dates to the medieval period and includes structural metalwork, dress accessories, writing equipment, weapons, knives coins, scale pans and keys and locks.

2.4 POST-MEDIEVAL AND MODERN

Several objects were dateable to the post-medieval or modern period and were largely intrusive screws and nails.

3.0 CATALOGUES

COINS

KNIVES (Dagger Chapes, Hilt Band)

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS (Book Furniture, Mounts, Styli, Keys & Locks, Scale Pans, Spoon, Fork)

CRAFT-WORKING TOOLS (TEXTILE/LEATHER-WORKING - Shears, Thimble, Spindlewhorls, ?Leather-working knife, Awls, Needles, Undiagnostic Pins. METAL-WORKING - Copper-alloy wire & sheet offcuts, Button-making, Lead perforated disc, Lead waste & offcuts, Iron-working, Punches, Iron sheet, Iron strips & bars. WOODWORKING - Auger)

FISHING EQUIPMENT

DRESS ACCESSORIES (Garment hooks, Purse bar, Lace chapes, Pins, Buckles, Buckle plates, Wire loop fasteners, Finger rings, Strapends, Brooches)

TOILET IMPLEMENTS (Tweezers, Ear scoops)

HORSE EQUIPMENT (Bits, Horse shoes, Horse shoe nails, Harness pendants)

STRUCTURAL METALWORK (Flat headed nails, Headless nails, Small dome-headed nails/tacks/hobnails, Large dome-headed nails, Staples, Roves, Clench bolts, Hinges, Hinge pivots, Socketed hook, Broken undiagnostic nails)

WEAPONS

4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS

The Anglian and medieval artefacts should be the subject of comparative study, particularly with the published material from the adjacent excavations at 45 to 56 Fishergate, but also nationally. Once phasing of the site sequence has been undertaken, the finds should be analysed by phase. They should also be studied for spatial patterning which would be particularly relevant for the Anglian finds. The structural metalwork, which is likely to be largely medieval would complement the large assemblage of building material and the information it provides about the form and status of buildings within the Priory precinct. The coins should be referred to the project numismatists for identification and analysis. Selected finds should be photographed to a high standard for the internet publication and where photography is insufficient they should also be illustrated.

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