Detail of a bone pin, with a carved head in the shape of a pineapple, from Sherborne Old Castle, held at Fort Brockhurst, shown with a scale bar

Date:
8 Jan 2016
Location:
Sherborne Old Castle, Castleton, West Dorset, Dorset
Reference:
DP184219
Type:
Photograph (Digital)
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Description

Photographer's note: 'The pin is of a type which appeared after the Norman conquest. Spherical heads are common, but it is likely that the pineapple carving is rare. This also helps with dating - if the carving is of a pineapple. Pineapples are a fruit of the New World and therefore this pin must have a post 1493 date. Sir Walter Raleigh explored the new world in the 1590's and early 17th century. The pin may have been a decorative accessory worn by a member of his household which paid homage to his exploration achievements.'

Content

This is part of the Job: 2K/24194 Artefacts, Sherborne Old Castle, Castleton, Dorset; within the Volume: VF000185 English Heritage/Historic England Collections And General Object Photography; within the Series: HEC01/024 English Heritage/Historic England Collections; within the Collection: HEC01 Historic England

Rights

© Historic England Archive

People & Organisations

Photographer: Baker, Steven: Historic England

Keywords

Castle, Archaeology And Excavations