THOUSANDS of small finds have been recovered from a submerged riverbed in the River Wear at Elvet, Durham, over more than a decade.

Each one, recovered from the find site by underwater archaeologist Gary Bankhead, has a story to tell about the life, interests and activities of the people of Durham from as far back as the 13th century.

Today’s Object of the Week is a delightful small copper alloy (brass) object, in the shape of a sitting lion, found in the river in May 2017.

It is likely to be the foot of a multi-component object such as a vessel, candlestick, or stand.

The Northern Echo: This late medieval brass lion, presently on display in the Museum of Archae-ology, Durham University, was recovered from the depths of the River Wear. Picture: GARY BANKHEADThis late medieval brass lion, presently on display in the Museum of Archae-ology, Durham University, was recovered from the depths of the River Wear. Picture: GARY BANKHEAD

There is a broken metal attachment located through the rear section of the base.

The object forms part of the Durham River Wear Assemblage (small finds number B.3644).

While the use of copper alloys as materials for decorative functional feet for these types of artefact has significant precedence in the archaeological and historical record, from the Roman period onwards, this object was likely to have been in use during the late medieval period – which covers the 11th to 15th centuries.

The object was likely cast using the ‘lost wax’ method, as evidenced by the lack of flash marks and the ‘smooth’ nature of the design.

The lion was attached to the leg of the main artefact via a square hole through which the leg was inserted and later hammered down.

The lion likely held a symbolic value to the owner for which it was made as seen in the use of lion motifs throughout the medieval period.

There is no supporting evidence for an ecclesiastical use, so it is most likely a secular object in the heraldic mode.

If the use of a lion holds heraldic significance, it is probable that the complete object was owned and commissioned by a noble family.

The use of the lion may be a symbolic reference to the bravery of the chivalric knight as evidence in the common usage of the motif in monumental brasses of knights from the late medieval period.

The use of brass may be the material known as latten, common in decorative objects at the time and possibly meant to imitate gold.

However, as the artefact is not of outstanding artisanal quality as shown by the crudity of the design, it is unlikely to have belonged to the upper strata of feudal society and may instead be a statement of higher status than the owner may have been admitted to in the feudal system, merely an attempt to appear grander in society.

The object is currently on display in the Museum of Archaeology, Durham University.

* Do you have an artefact on display in a North-East museum, gallery or exhibition which you would like to feature in a future Object of the Week? Contact Andrew White on 01325-505054 or andrew.white@nne.co.uk.