🥇 BANNER Romano/Celtic dagger Cross Guard 1st C BC - 1st C AD

[nashwen]

Thought I'd share this dagger cross guard I found while detecting in woodland, pleased to have had it identified and dated by members on this forum


It was buried at about 6" no sign of any blade unfortunately, I'm guessing that must have rusted away over the years


Now correctly identified as Cheek piece toggle although more recently modern research, from their occurrence in chariot burials, suggests that their use may have been with the chariots themselves



The site has a lot of undergrowth so I've only been able to detect about 25% of it, hope there's more to be found there once I get another chance.

 

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[pepperj]

What a great find, congrats and the vote is in on this one!

 

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[toasted]

Congrats. Only beats me oldest find by about 1700 years

 

[joeyfresh]

Holy cow! Is it common for enamel to last that in the ground. Wonderful find!

 

[CRUSADER]

If it is a cheek piece it is also extremely rare from what I have read. Only 15 found? Very impressive

They are so rare the Cheek Piece theory was an incorrect ID. Notice the UK British official database (PAS) has most of them incorrect.

 

[CRUSADER]

Holy cow! Is it common for enamel to last that in the ground. Wonderful find!

Not common, but happens.

 

[Coldshuz]

Firstly I have nominated this for Banner for the following reasons;

It's an EXTREMELY RARE UK find.
It has a lovely patina, complete & with some enamel.

This Iron Age (Celtic) workmanship may have crossed over into the Roman period, but it clearly shows signs of British craftmanship, some of the best in Europe at the time.

It is of Museum standard & that maybe the only place you may find a similar example. It's very possible that this might be one of less than 5 examples known!

BIG CONGRATS.

Gotta agree with Cru on this one. Fantastic find. Grats!

 

[Stretch Da Truth]

Congrats on an awesome find!
Good luck at that site and I hope you find more!!

 

[CRUSADER]

Although my initial ID was incorrect (Other than period/Celtic), everything else spoke for itself. The rarity & condition is great, so CONGRATS on the BANNER>

 

[Z.K.]

Holy cow, amazing what can sometimes slip under the radar on TNet. So glad we have some really informed members who are also advocates for these sorts of relics. Totally humbling.

Congrats Nashwen, and thank you for sharing what you found.

 

[Tnmountains]

it did not slip under the radar even as most do not know what it is.But the ones that did knew right away and voted Banner. Congratulations on a stellar find!

 

[DieterD]

Oh man. These finds are motivation. Cook

 

[Aureus]

A dream find! Big congratulation!

 

[Bisquitlips]

That's a beautiful find Nashwen.

Just to disagree slightly though I believe that what you have is an Iron Age chariot fitting of the type usually referred to as cheek piece toggles.

There's a (plain) example here on the portable antiquities scheme database:

https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/89289

And one very much like yours that sold at timeline auctions:

Celtic Iron Age - Enamelled Cheek Piece Toggle - Lot No. 582

Still an amazing find - part of an Iron Age chariot - and I'll be voting banner too!

Jamie

This is why I $upport T-Net! It is easy to see that the people on this forum are fantastic when it comes to their willingness to share their knowledge and that knowledge is not something that comes cheap! Accurate knowledge is mined and costly. In other groups this find could have gone on forever as a "dagger cross guard" and not what it really is. Thank you Jaime!

Such a rare thing these days to be in a group whose value comes from their kindness and giving and not their net worth!

 

[Billinoregon]

You guys in the British Isles have no idea how envious your Yankee cousins get over finds like this. Simply incredible!

 

[MichiganMan]

WoW! That is a fantastic find. What substance is the red inlay? (I have not read the whole thread yet).

Edited: enamel [someone said]