Finds Tray: Lead toy figurine
This is a small toy figurine dating to between AD 1550 and 1700, recently found by a metal-detectorist near Azerley in North Yorkshire. Measuring approximately 4cm by 2cm (1.6in by 0.8in) and
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Counterpoise of a menat-necklace naming Taharqa
Campbell Price describes a symbolic votive object from the Twenty-fifth Dynasty.
Finds Tray: Iron fetter
This is an iron fetter, probably from a set of shackles, dating to the Romano-British period. Found near Horncastle, Lincolnshire, following river-dredging, it is in exceptionally good condition, perhaps because of the
Helmet eyebrow arch
Helmet parts of this date are rare finds in Denmark… What is it? This piece of a remarkable pre-Viking Age helmet comprises two fragments that fit together perfectly to make up a
Finds Tray: Ware bowl
Found late last year on the Thames foreshore, this is the base of a small Samian ware bowl with a maker’s stamp. Based on its size, approximately 42.5mm (1.7in) in diameter, it
Sphinx of Hatshepsut (Cairo)
Campbell Price selects one of a pair of sphinxes from the first ‘avenue of sphinxes’, at Deir el-Bahri.
Finds Tray – Spherical knop
This artefact was discovered by a metal-detectorist near Corringham, Lincolnshire, earlier this year. It has been identified as one of the spherical knops from an Iron Age openwork toggle or possibly a
Metal stamping die
This design is… known from the Sutton Hoo and Valsgärde helmets. What is it? This rectangular copper-alloy object is 1-1.5mm thick and measures 4.5cm by 3.7cm. It dates to c.AD 550-625 and
Finds Tray – Silver cross pendant
This is a gilded silver cross pendant or pectoral cross, dating to the early medieval period – most likely the 8th century. It was discovered in August 2021 by a metal-detectorist in
Bust of Ankhhaf
An unusually lifelike piece of sculpture, supposedly depicting an important Old Kingdom official, is analysed by Campbell Price.
Finds Tray – Disc brooch
This is a cloissonné disc brooch dating from the late Anglo-Saxon period (c.AD 970-1100) and was recently found by a metal-detectorist on farmland near Winscombe and Sandford in North Somerset. While similar
Roman miniature padlock
A unique find, this tiny object is very finely crafted. What is it? This Roman miniature padlock, comprising a gold exterior and an iron core, measures just 1.2cm by 1.1cm. It is
Finds Tray – Roman coin
This coin, found by a metal-detectorist near Basingstoke in Hampshire, was minted in North Africa during Julius Caesar’s Civil War (49-45 BC), and is a fascinating example of Roman Republican propaganda. At
Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figurine
Campbell Price describes a statuette in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and considers what it meant to its owner.
Finds Tray – Early medieval zoomorphic mount
This recent addition to the Portable Antiquities Scheme’s database, originally found by metal-detectorists in Winchester in the mid-1990s and since donated to the Hampshire Cultural Trust, is a particularly eye-catching example of
A Byzantine coin-balance
At first glance, it looks like an ornate coffee spoon… What is it? This curious object, which looks at first glance like a large, ornate, cruciform coffee spoon, is in fact rather
Finds Tray – Tumbler-lock slide key
This distinctive object, found by a metal-detectorist near Wragby in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, has been identified as a Roman tumbler-lock slide key. Its handle consists of a sizable, solid, copper-alloy rectangular block
Belt of Ramesses III
Dr Campbell Price describes an item of clothing that belonged to a New Kingdom pharaoh.
Finds Tray – Nail cleaner
This object was found by a metal-detectorist in Roxby cum Risby, North Lincolnshire, and was subsequently identified by the local Finds Liaison Officer as a nail cleaner, or possibly a surgical instrument,
Silver-gilt vessel
The vessel was… packed with precious objects and placed upside down. What is it? This lidded, silver-gilt vessel is c.150mm tall, and 92.4mm in diameter at the rim. It was discovered as
Finds Tray – Ear scoop
This medieval ear scoop was found by a metal-detectorist near King’s Lynn in Norfolk, and has recently been submitted under consideration for Treasure status according to the 1996 Treasure Act. One end
Ancestral bust of a woman
Dr Campbell Price describes an unusual statue bust from the Brooklyn Museum of Art.
Finds Tray – Vulcan figurine
This figurine was found by a metal-detectorist near Holton-le-Clay in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. Although it is lacking its head, enough stylistic features have survived to identify it as representing Vulcan, Roman god