Accession No

1953.190.1


Description

Iron knife with broken tang. Symmetrical choil and shoulder, curved back and straight cutting edge.


Place

Europe; British Isles; England; Cambridgeshire; Melbourn


Period

Anglo Saxon


Source

Cambridge Archaeological Field Club [donor]; Wilson, David Mackenzie [excavator]; Erskine, R. [excavator]


Department

Arch


Reference Numbers

1953.190.1


Cultural Affliation


Material

Metal; Iron


Local Term


Measurements

132mm


Events

Description (Physical description)
1953.190[.1-5]: 'Iron knife, single edged and small bronze buckle with rectangular back plate. Also a long iron spear with split socket and remains of the wooden spear shaft. A conical iron shield boss with copper knob. Iron hand grip for shield.'
Event Date
Author: maa


Description (Labels & Markings)
Marked with 'MELBOURN' in white ink
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson


Context (Field collection)
Grave 12.
Collected by: Cambridge Archaeological Field Club

Event Date 1952
Author: maa


Context (References)
Wilson, D.M. (1956). The Initial Excavations of an Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Melbourn, Cambridgeshire. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society. Vol XLIX. pp. 29-41. Fig. 3
Event Date 1956
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson


Context (References)
Swanton, M.J. (1973). 'The Spearheads of the Anglo-Saxon Settlements.' Leeds: The Royal Archaeological Institute. Fig. 13b, p. 163.
Event Date 1973
Author: Imogen Gunn


Context (Related Documents)
See archive GO3/24/1 for x-rays and photographs of the spearhead, c. 1974.
Event Date 1974
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)


Context (Found together / assemblage)
Swanton (see Bib) describes the grave as containing 'an adult warrior extended N-S. Spearhead 45.9 cm long, the blade incomplete, to the left of the body. Associated objects: knife, tall-cone shield-boss, small bronze buckle with an oval loop and rectangular folded plate fixed by a vertical row of three rivets.'
Event Date 5/1/2013
Author: Imogen Gunn


Conservation (Remedial)
CON.1976.10 | Remedial
Event Date 13/5/2020
Author: Kirstie French


Description (Physical description)
Iron knife with broken tang. Symmetrical choil and shoulder, curved back and straight cutting edge.
Event Date 21/4/2021
Author: Lily Stancliffe


FM:16126

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