Lead Things

[Val Beechey]

Does any one know what these are. I know they look like fishing weights but I found them in a field. Made of lead and weighing 95 grams each.

Val

[Al.Thepastfinder, ( Alan )]

not sure Val   but people do often practice their casting in fields,   iv'e found a few fishing weights,  some with line still on them.

[Val Beechey]

Hi Al. Yes know what you mean, I practiced fly casting in my field. But these look as if they've been there a long time, theyre white with age. Curious to find them so far in land.

Val

[nobby]

hi Val
they re horn caps...they would have been put on cattles horns and the protruding tip would have been sawn off.

[Chef Geoff]

Ummm not so sure Nobby, the holes are a bit too small to allow a horn to pass all the way through plus they seem a bit small so would still be dangerous, I also feel that lead would of been to soft for any great lifespan.
I would go with some type of spindle whorl.

[nobby]

yea they are geoff, exactly the same as the one i found on the ludlow rally...mine still had the horn bit left in it....i didnt know what it was until the farmer told me!

[Chef Geoff]

Ah now if you had told me it came to you in a dream I would of believed you Nobby, but a farmer told you? well it's definitely not a horn guard then 

[The Doc]

Interesting that the farmer identified them as cow horn protectors. Usually these are thought to be weights of some sort - eg to weigh down nets to trap rabbits.

[Val Beechey]

Yes Peter, thats what my Hubby said but why would they be in a field. Found my 1st complete thimble not far away and other bits of lead. Also small pieces of pottery and old glass. 3 1/2 miles in land seems a stretch of the imadgination for a Fishermans cottage.

Val

[Chef Geoff]

Do the rabbits swim up around your way then Val

[Val Beechey]

Very funny Geoff, like that one. Praps they know what they are

Val

[Al.Thepastfinder, ( Alan )]

 i'll have to take a pic of some of my horn protectors later to see the difference,,  one has still got some rotted stuff inside.

[Val Beechey]

Morning Al.  The holes in the middle are less than 1/2 inch across so I can't see them fitting on a horn. Jury still out but I think it's not impossible that they are fishing net weights. 3 1/2 miles wasn't that far to walk though I'd say it was unusual.
What about the beach combers, have any of them found weights like these?

Val

[nobby]

theres a horn protector on this link val...similar size too yours....also for geoff...theres a couple of crotal bells to refresh your memory of what they look like

http://www.treasurehunting.co.uk/uploads/fieldtests/Test_95.pdf

[Chef Geoff]

Thanks for that Nobby and when your parents get married I'll be happy to do the catering....You little B------
I think most of us have the normal type of horn protector shown in that link but Val's are totally different shape and normally they are made of a copper alloy not lead.