An Fe Obj of Interest

Anyone that's worked on an archaeological site knows the shorthand phrase 'Fe Obj' - which simply means 'Iron Object.'  We save this for all manner of indeterminate rusty objects that most of the time turn out to be indeterminate recent scraps of iron.  However, at Rhynie we have soil conditions that seem amazingly to preserve iron objects (a case in point being our fantastic iron axe-pin from 2012).

Yesterday Irvine (who found our lovely and possibly exotic blue spiral bead) was dutifully working in his ditch sondage when he shouted 'Meggen! Metal!' across the site.  And behold - an Fe Obj! Something odd about one end prompted Daniel and I to look giddy and mutter 'pin-like' a lot.  It isn't another axe-pin, but looks rather like a form called a 'disc-headed pin' - a fantastic example of a 5th-6th century silver disc-headed pin can be found at the British Museum (http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/d/disc-headed_pin.aspx).  There's no way to tell if ours was decorated at all at the moment and it is broken at the tip, too.  Another great find to add to our collection of wonderful and sometimes unique finds collection from the site.

Remember, tomorrow the 29th is our site Open Day and the Pictish pop-up cafe will be in full operation. We will be offering regular tours and there will be a mini-display of some of our finds.  We have a 'sieve the spoil heap' challenge for those wanting to get their hands dirty and for the little ones a special sand box (crafted by Fred) and a chance for them to dig and sieve to find themselves a little treasure to take away. Rhynie is on the A97 and the field is just south of the village.  The brave might drive into the field, but there is also a gate to walk into the field at the southern corner.  You can park in the village by the square and walk up on the big grassy verge. You can also park in the cemetery car park (where there are some Pictish stones on display) and walk up by the field wall.

Diggers enjoying our cafe tent.