NHER 4578 (Find Spot record) - Roman quern and Late Saxon sword

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Summary

Part of a Roman rotary quern, possibly made of millstone grit, and a complete Late Saxon iron sword were found here. The Late Saxon sword had been bent below the hilt which is decorated with silver gilt appliqué. The bending of swords before deposition is uncommon in Britain although the practice is recorded in Scandinavia.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TF70SE
Civil Parish GOODERSTONE, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

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Record list

Tools

1957.
Upper stone of Roman rotary quern ?millstone grit.
R. R. Clarke (NCM).

October 1957. Ploughed up from top of soil. 0.4km (1/4 mile) east of Chalkrow Cottages.
Iron sword. Guard has silver applique: blade bent below guard. Around AD 875 to 950 English modification of Viking type. Blade is pattern welded (Petersen Type L).
See (S1), (S2) and (S3).
E. Rose (NLA).

Sword is 10th century or later
See (S4).
E. B. Green (NCM)

'Ritual bending of sword blades in Scandinavia, especially Norway but not in Britain. Blades bent from towards middle of blade, lower part being brought up towards hilt and sometimes bent back again in a sort of S curve. Sutton Hoo helmet ritually killed by spear'.
R. L. S. Bruce-Mitford.

For ritual bending see (S5). See also (S6) for 'killed swords'.
R. R. Clarke (NCM).

(S4) feels evidence not sufficiently strong to prove 'killing'.
E. B. Green (NCM).

  • --- Article in Serial: Wilson, D. M. and Hurst, D. G. 1959. Medieval Britain in 1957. Medieval Archaeology. Vol II (for 1958) pp 183-213. p 188.
  • --- Illustration: Finds Illustrations.
  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Late Saxon. Gooderstone.
  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Roman. Gooderstone.
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TF 70 SE 10; TF 70 SE 16.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • --- Serial: 1957. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries. No 4. p 3.
  • <S1> Photograph: NCM. M253, M255, M257 and M404. Gooderstone iron sword..
  • <S2> Photograph: Maxwell, B.. 1958. Black and white prints of radiographs of Gooderstone sword..
  • <S3> X-ray: X ray.
  • <S4> Article in Serial: Wilson, D. M. 1966. Some Neglected Late Anglo-Saxon Swords. Medieval Archaeology. Vol IX (for 1965) pp 32-54. pp 35-36; Pl Iva.
  • <S5> Article in Serial: [unknown]. Birka. Vol I, Taf 4, 2314.
  • <S6> Serial: Du Chaillu. Viking Age.. Vol 1.
  • QUERN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SWORD (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Jun 2 2016 1:15PM

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