balance;
pendant(?);
amulet(?)
- Museum number
- 2006,1203.16
- Description
-
Copper-alloy part of a folding balance, consisting of the central section of the beam with pointer, the hanging arm hinged to the base of the pointer by a copper-alloy rivet, and a knotted wire ring passing through the looped top of the arm; one end of the beam section has a rivet hole with traces of an iron rivet for hingeing a missing long arm and the other end is broken to a similar length, the resulting T-shape suggesting that perhaps the balance had been reused as a Thor's hammer pendant when no longer usable for weighing.
- Production date
- 9thC(late)
- Dimensions
-
Length: 44 millimetres
-
Width: 28 millimetres
- Curator's comments
-
The hoard is dated to the last quarter of the 9th century by Dr. G. Williams on the basis of the dates of the minting of the associated coins.
-
Some Viking hoards contain Thor's hammer pendants, possibly as protective amulets. The balance may putatively have been cut down to give it a similar, symbolic function, whether it was intended to be worn, or not.
- Location
- On display (G41/dc25/sA)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2010 16 Jun-15 Dec, York, Jorvik Viking Centre, Ainsbrook Hoard
- Acquisition date
- 2006
- Acquisition notes
- Metal detector find; joint purchase with Dept of Coins & Medals.
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 2006,1203.16
- Additional IDs
-
Treasure/PAS number: 2004T13(156) (Treasure number)
