NHER 24060 (Find Spot record) - Viking or Danish spade

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Summary

A Danish or Viking wooden spade was uncovered during land clearance by mechanical excavator. There are similar spades dated 500 AD and 870 AD, and others carried on Viking longships. Similar spades can also be seen portrayed on the Bayeux tapestry.

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Location

Map sheet	TG10NE
Civil Parish	BAWBURGH, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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Full Description

22 September 1987.
Found in large 'pit' of peat containing sedges and rushes by grab digging out gravel - at about 5.5m (18 feet) below surface. Wooden object 1.5m (55.5 inches) long found hanging from grab bucket which had damaged the shaft about 46cm (18 inches) from the end. Object immersed in water on 2 October 1987.
Inf [1].
See (S1).
W. Milligan (NCM) 2 October 1987.

Suggested by G. Lerche, Danish National Museum, as Danish wooden spade similar to types dated 870 and 500 AD
but also carried in Viking longships.
See (S1) and (S2).
E. Rose (NAU) 22 February 1988.

Associated Sources (5)

--- SNF204 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1988. Detective job for experts. 12 April.
--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1> SNF49959 Illustration: Finds Illustrations.
<S2> SNF56635 Unpublished Document: Lerche, G.. 1988. Letter. 25 January.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (1)

FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)

Object Types (1)

SPADE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Find out more...(1)

Bawburgh (Parish Summary)

Record last edited

Feb 19 2009 4:07PM