Accession No

Z 16466.1


Description

Iron scythe. Flat 'L' shape. Thin blade with rectangular cross-section. Thicker blade back, thinner cutting edge, areas missing. Blade tip missing at one end, curved at 90 degree angle at the other end to form a tapering tang with a rectangular cross-section and a pointed tip.


Place

Europe; British Isles; England; Cambridgeshire; Westley Waterless


Period

Anglo Saxon c 1000 AD


Source

Trinity College, Cambridge [depositor]; Hall (Mr) [collector]


Department

Arch


Reference Numbers

Z 16466.1; AOA0064 [Cast No.]; ARC 1975/28 [Loan No.]


Cultural Affliation


Material

Metal; Iron


Local Term


Measurements

135mm


Events

Context (Display)
Old display label reads: 'Plough coulter, Spearheads, Hasps, Draw-knife, etc:, found in the 10th c. leaden vessel at Westley Waterless shown below. Trinity College Loan' added in pen: 'Z 16465-74'
Event Date
Author: Louise Puckett


Context (Found together / assemblage)
According to Thomas McKenny Hughes, the lead tank (Z 16465) was presented to Trinity College, Cambridge by Mr. Hall of Six Mile Bottom. It was 'dug up in draining the field behind the School and Post Office at Westley Waterless... [It] contained a bill and spearhead with side-opening sockets. Another spear, too long to be placed inside, lay across the vessel. There were also in it a steel-yard weight, holdfasts, an auger, a small coulter, staples, hasps, portions of what may have been a lock, and other fragments of iron' (p. xv) (Z 16466 - Z 16474). This discovery predates 1879, when Hughes made his presentation, but the date of discovery is currently unknown.
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Description (Physical description)
Accession Register entry for Z 16466[.1-2]: 'Iron draw-knife (broken in two)'
Event Date
Author: maa


Context (Analysis)
Dr Kevin Leahy identified these objects as being two scythe tangs, not from the same object. The original identification of the objects as part of the same draw knife is incorrect.
Event Date 14/4/2011
Author: Imogen Gunn


Description (Physical description)
Dr Kevin Leahy description of Z 16466[.1-2]: 'Two scythe tangs, not part of the same object.'
Event Date 14/4/2011
Author: maa


Context (Amendments / updates)
A cast was made of a draw knife, or scythe tang, assumed from part or all of the fragments listed in this record, by the National Maritime Museum (NMM), at an unknown date. Cast Number AOA0064, Loan Number ARC 1975/28. This cast was put on display at the NMM. In June 2015 the cast was transferred to MAA to the T-series.
Event Date 16/10/2019
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson


Conservation (Remedial)
CON.1975.23 | Remedial
Event Date 22/4/2020
Author: Kirstie French


Description (Physical description)
Iron scythe. Flat 'L' shape. Thin blade with rectangular cross-section. Thicker blade back, thinner cutting edge, areas missing. Blade tip missing at one end, curved at 90 degree angle at the other end to form a tapering tang with a rectangular cross-section and a pointed tip.
Event Date 19/5/2021
Author: Louise Puckett


FM:16103

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