Find Spot record 1160/0/1610 - Unstratified Saxon find, Northampton

An object of worked stone, described in 1923 as a Scandinavian strike-a-light of mid-1st millennium AD date, was found on a ploughed field near Northampton.

{1}Scandinavian strike-a-light found whilst ploughing in a field near Northampton. Dated between 300 and 500 AD it is thought to have been imported into England during the 5th c AD.
It is 5.1 ins long and consists of a pointed oval quartzite, with two flat faces and the side grooved all round, so as to fit into the belt; the shorter face having a groove worn in the middle by repeated blows from the steel.

Specimens for the same purpose, but of different shape, are known in Ireland as 'tracked' stones; but the type figured is almost confined to Scandinavia, and this is the first example found in England.

{3} Now held by Leicester Museum. Precise site of find unknown.

<1> Uncertain, 1923, The Antiquaries Journal, p. 371-2 (Uncertain). SNN19903.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76SE41 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> Colquhoun, FD, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 FDC 26-MAR-1969 (Note). SNN112706.

Record last edited

Jun 29 2022 3:03PM