SPEAR 82182

Description: Copper alloy Door Knob Spear Butt of Roman or Early-Medieval date, c. 200-300 AD or 500-600 AD. The object is formed by a hollow circular shaft, tapering slightly from the open end before expanding where it joins the terminal (D. 22-17.7-34.7mm. Th. 3.8mm). The terminal is circular and also hollow, and is slightly concave on the closed side where it has been damaged (D. 52.3mm. W. 23mm). There is incised decoration on the shaft in the form of four parallel lateral grooves separated by three ridges close to the open end. There is also a slight ridge at the junction of the expanded end of the shaft with the terminal. These objects were once thought to be of Iron Age date, however they are now known to be of either Roman or Early-Medieval date. They are relatively common finds in Ireland, and the moulds are known from northern Scotland.

Object type: SPEAR

Last import: August 15, 2017