Lincolnshire Portable Antiquities Scheme

06/09/2024

This week's is a medieval brooch, dating to c. AD 1200 - 1400. The brooch is annular with a space for the missing pin. One side is decorated with a repeated motif of M and V's punctuated by crosses, framed by a grooved border. Each character is divided by a rectangular with incised lines. The V and M are probably the initials of Maria Virgo or the Virgin Mary. Traditionally inscriptions on annular brooches would have held a religious significance, with AVE MARIA (Hail Mary) or variations of IHESVS NAZARENVS (Jesus of Nazareth) being popular, although others have been found to express sentiments of friendship and love.

PAS no. LIN-804AC4

05/09/2024

Save the date: Finds Day at Caistor Arts and Heritage Centre Wednesday 2nd October, 10-1pm.

30/08/2024

This week's is a Roman British Repousse plate brooch, dating to c. AD 80 - 250. The brooch comprises a circular disc with a broken loop and a short zoomorphic foot. The design consists of a cross with each arm terminating in a scroll motif. The foot is in the form of a moulded face with heavy brows, grooves for eyes, and a rounded snout with a worn flat end.

This is the first example with a central cross and a zoomorphic foot recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database. Roman plate brooches with repousse plates are uncommon discoveries. PAS no. LIN-D18763.

23/08/2024

This week's is a post medieval copper alloy halfpenny trader's token, dating to c. AD 1648 - 1672 and issued by Bartholamew York. During the mid 17th century due to a shortage of official coins, halfpenny and farthing tokens were issued by private businesses to facilitate small change exchange. The obverse reads B[ARTHOL]AME[W] (HIS HALFE PENY) and the reverse depicts [I]N. Ye. [B]AYLE. OF. [L]INCOL[N] (in three lines across field). This is the first examples of its type recorded by the PAS.

PAS no. LIN-FD6A3C

16/08/2024

This week's is a medieval lead ampulla, dating to c. AD 1350 - 1530. One face depicts a shield within a circle containing a crowned letter P above. The neck has been pinched closed and remains sealed. However, the shell face and the lower edge have angular damage and an aperture; perhaps indicating it was cut to obtain the fluid inside.

It was thought that these contained holy water and their deposition within fields was thought to bless the crop. The cult to which the crowned P refers is unknown. It is therefore listed as a 'Find of Note'.

PAS no. LIN-776D7E

09/08/2024

This week's is an early medieval silver penny of Eadwald, King of East Anglia. Dating to c. AD 796 - 798. The second 'A' in EADA does not have the bar and is probably an upside down V, which is probably an abbreviation for the W in his name Eadwald. The reverse depicts the moneyer's name within compartments of quatrefoil, surrounded by circular pellet border; it was struck by L*l in East Anglia.

This is the first example of its type recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme and is therefore a 'Find of Note'. PAS no. LIN-EDCC84

02/08/2024

This week's is an Iron Age harness fitting, dating to c. 200 BC - AD 50. These objects are described in the literature as 'minature terrets' but they are different to true terrets in form and function. It has been suggested these mini terrets were perhaps attached to the ends of narrow straps to prevent linchpins from becoming detatched from chariots. Minature terrets have been found in association with the heads of linchpins in vehicle burials in East Yorkshire.

This one has been donated to Lincoln Musuem! PAS no. LIN-698771

26/07/2024

The final instalment for the is from Leon - a student from Bishop Grosseteste University who spent their placement with the Lincs PAS. Today, he tell us about the Lost Horse Statue of Roman Lincoln! 🧐

This year, Leon, an undergraduate degree student from Bishop Grosseteste University completed their placement with the Lincs PAS. Leon spent his time recording and researching artefacts found by me…

25/07/2024

For Thursday's instalment for the - Megan tell us about her new role as Finds Liaison Assistant!🧐

It is a burning question that’s on everyone’s lips – how do you get a job at the Portable Antiquities Scheme? Megan tell us how she became the FLA for Lincolnshire…. Hello e…

24/07/2024

The next instalment for is by a local metal-detectorist, Kev tell us about how he got into the hobby and recording with The Portable Antiquities Scheme

By Kev Woodward In 1990 getting divorced meant I had more time on my hands which I wanted to fill with a new pastime.  I was always interested in local history and archaeology so I sort out my…

23/07/2024

In today's instalment for , our new Headley Intern tell us about his time working for The Portable Antiquities Scheme so far and how he got into archaeology.

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Council for British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology, I would like to detail my own unexpected journey into the realms of studying and analysing Britai…

22/07/2024

Today's instalment for the is about the Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer 🥰🧐

The Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer Lincolnshire is a county rich in fascinating history and archaeology, with incredible stories to tell from the past. It has evidence and remains from our earliest…

18/07/2024

This week for the
we take a look at how to photograph small finds!
https://finds.org.uk/counties/lincolnshire/festival-of-archaeology-today-we-take-a-look-at-how-to-photograph-small-finds-with-rod-trevaskus/

15/07/2024

The Festival of Archaeology has started across the nations!

Hello Lincolnshire! It’s Lisa Brundle here, your local FLO at Lincoln HQ. It is the 80th anniversary of the Council for British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology and here at Lincoln…

05/07/2024

This week's is an early medieval stirrup zoomorphic terminal, dating to c. AD 1000 - 1100. The object consists of a socket, which has an outer face shaped with a zoomorphic motif. The socket has a worn and broken reverse; it would have originally enclosed the oblique arm of the stirrup. From the base of the outer face of the terminal an integral crested animal head turns upwards, with its neck resting its muzzle on the mid-point of the outer socket. The animal neck forms a single loop.

This object is only one of seven examples of this type recorded on the PAS database. PAS no. LIN-797B9A

28/06/2024

This week's is a Roman copper alloy nail cleaner!
Dating to c. AD 100 - 250, the blade, which resembles an elongated heart shape is decorated on one side with a faint stamped ringed dot. This type of nail cleaner developed from the simple leaf shaped blades that were favoured earlier, and their stylised leaf shape can be paralleled by seal-boxes of the same period.

PAS no. LIN-5D2972

21/06/2024

This week's is a Viking gilded finger ring! Dating to c. AD 900 - 1100, the ring is made from two twisted strands of copper alloy, which have been covered in gilding.

The form is a miniature version of Viking period gold and silver neck and arm rings of around the 10th - 11th centuries, like those from Skaill, Orkney, and Wipholm and Germany. This type of ring appears to have continued in use somewhat later in Denmark at least.

PAS no. LIN-5CDF67

14/06/2024

This week's is a cast bronze unit, or potin. A primarily Kentish style of coin from the British Iron Age. Dating to c. 175 - 100 BC. The obverse shows the head of Apollo facing left, while the reverse depicts a bull butting to the right.

07/06/2024

This week's is another seal matrix! This one is medieval, dating to c. AD 1200 - 1400 and features a zoomorphic design.
The face is decorated with a lamb, known as an Agnus Dei or 'lamb of god'. Beneath this a mother bird hovering over her nest, described as a 'pelican in its piety'.
The outer inscription reads ANGDVS DEI MISERERE MEI or 'God have mercy upon me'.

PAS no. LEIC-DFAC52

31/05/2024

This week's is a Neolithic discoidal knife! Dating to c. 3300 - 2200 BC, it is made from a large piece of polished flint.

It was most likely manufactured from a thin piece of flint that detached through a natural process called 'pot-lid fracture'. This thermal fracturing would've produced an ideal piece of flint from which to create the knife - most likely attracting the experienced eye of its maker. The shortest edge of the object appears to have undergone less retouching, instead showing a mostly raw edge. This may have been the 'butt' of the knife, where it was either hafted or held.

Polished flint knives, particularly those of a discoidal shape, are often associated with the Grooved Ware Culture of the British Late Neolithic.

PAS no. LIN-BAA7F2

24/05/2024

This week's is a medieval personal seal matrix, dating to c. AD 1200 - 1300. This would have been used to seal letters with an impression in wax.

The front is engraved with a fleur-de-lis and is surrounded by the name Concos F Simon. Concos is an unusual first name and is the first example recorded on the database.

PAS no. LIN-7BD410

17/05/2024

This week's is a Roman enamelled mini bird shaped vessel! Probably used for holding cosmetics or perfume, it is in the form of a swimming bird.

It was perhaps designed to be suspended from the loop and worn as a pendant. Unfortunately, the head has broken off :( but it's still a beautiful find!

PAS no. SWYOR-861B2E

10/05/2024

This week's is a medieval copper alloy scabbard chape! The object is made in the Urnes style which came from South Scandinavia in c. AD 1100 - 1200.

A chape would have reinforced the end of a scabbard as a protective measure. This one has an openwork design of trefoil plant shaped ornamentation on both sides.

PAS no. LIN-A2E372

03/05/2024

This week's is a post medieval silver commemorative medallion of Charles I, dating to c. AD 1625 - 1700. On the obverse is a moulded bust of Charles I; facing left, bareheaded with flowing hair and pointed beard. The reverse depicts the royal coat of arms, crowned within a garter.

Pendants and medallions of this type were given to and worn by friends and partisans of the monarch and some may have been given in recognition of support or service during the civil war or interregnum. They were worn as ornamental or as honourable decorations conferred for services performed. Others were concealed as tacit memorials of the royal person or cause, where an open avowal of such attachment would have been troublesome or dangerous to the wearer.

PAS no. LIN-6FDB49

26/04/2024

This week's is a cast copper alloy baldric ring! Dating from the late Iron Age to the Roman period, c. 70 BC - AD 300. By the late 2nd to 3rd century AD, this would have been used to help suspend a sword from a broad baldric on the soldier's left side.

PAS no. LIN-58B474

25/04/2024

Great morning finds session at Caistor Arts and Heritage Centre - thank you to all who collected and reported finds. We will see you again soon!

19/04/2024

This week's is a cast copper alloy Roman Colchester derivative brooch! Dating to c. AD 40 -70. Each wing is decorated with moulded beads, and the catchplate has this beautiful openwork design!

PAS no. LIN-F2424A

12/04/2024

This week's is a Neolithic limestone saddle quern! Dating to c. 4000 - 2350 BC. A saddle quern was used with a grinding stone for grinding corn into flour, and therefore marks the beginning of arable farming in the area.

The object is wedge shaped in profile and is worn on its upper surface only, the base is flat.

PAS no. NLM-6033AD

05/04/2024

This week's is a cast copper alloy Roman mount, in the shape of a bird! It has small moulded wings, with decoration indicating feathers and claws on the feet. The eyes also would have been inlaid with another material, possibly enamel.

The feet curl around a piece of copper wire thought to indicate a branch. This wire would have been attached to a larger object as a decorative element.

PAS no. ESS-F9A4E3

https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1146629

22/03/2024

This week's is a gold Roman Solidus of Magnus Maximus dating to the period AD 383-388 (Reece period 20). Mint of Treveri, struck AD 383-4.

https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1150282