File:ESS-1D6F96, post-medieval silver bodkin (FindID 590768).jpg

English: Description: Fragment of a dress-pin of bodkin type, Post Medieval date. It comprises of the head and upper shaft, whilst the lower shaft and pointed tip is lost due to old breaks. The head is rectangular in plan, with a tri-lobed upper terminal and a circular piercing in the centre just below. The head has several indentations at the sides, forming rectangular and ovoid sections. These sections are decorated with incised lines which is echoed (exactly the same) on the reverse face. The rectangular section containing the piercing has two parallel diagonal lines at either side above the hole and three parallel diagonal lines at either side below. The ovoid section below this is plain. Below the ovoid, a rectangular section is formed with two vertical lines crossing the length with two smaller parallel diagonal lines at either side. The final rectangular section below is covered with hatched lines. The upper shaft extends from the head, formed of a rectangular plate with a central rectangular slot forming two projections. The pin is broken laterally close to the start of the shaft. The shaft is decorated with incised rocker arm decoration.

Discussion: Margeson (1993: 8) illustrates similar bodkins in copper alloy, e.g. no. 23 which are dated to the 17th Century. Several similar examples of bodkins have been reported through the Treasure Act (1996) all being dated period 1500 - 1650 AD, e.g. HESH-C59173 / 2011 T393 with ear scoop terminal and IOW-305174 / 2005 T326 with less decoration but similar terminal.