English: A group of three iron ploughshares reported as having been found together, one being inserted into the recess of another. The objects range in size from length 312mm to length 250mm, one being markedly smaller than the others. All three were found covered with a fine dark brown sandy silt which included fragments of calcined bone, which has been left undisturbed pending further investigation. The circumstances of the discovery, as well as ongoing research into the site, commend this as a find of note. It is tempting to associate the hoard with the over-wintering of the Viking Army at Torksey in 872-873, recalling as they do the action of Viking armies in dividing and cultivating appropriated lands, but Kevin Leahy notes that the deposit of such hoards is more broadly dateable to the 8th to 10th centuries. Suggested date: Early Medieval, 700-1000.

1: Iron ploughshare. Wrought iron ploughshare with a rectangular section triangular blade with a slight constriction two thirds of the way along its length, where its sides are bent upwards as a pair of cheeks to accommodate a timber beam. The surface of the blade is slightly concave as it approaches the cheeks. The object is in excellent condition with good survival of metal. One of three similar objects, all covered with a fine brown sandy silt, in which whitish fragments of calcined bone are embedded. It was decided to eschew cleaning given the probable significance of the group. The finder reported that one of the smaller shares was juxtaposed with this, the largest of the group, the two being apparently slotted together, the smaller between the cheeks of the larger, with their points oriented in opposite directions. Length: 312.5mm, Width (before cheeks): 110mm, Height (at cheeks): 48mm, Thickness (towards point of blade): 23.5mm, Mass 2427.5g.

2: Iron ploughshare. Wrought iron ploughshare with a rectangular section triangular blade with a slight constriction two thirds of the way along its length, where its sides are bent upwards as a pair of cheeks to accommodate a timber beam. The surface of the blade is slightly concave as it approaches the cheeks. The object is in excellent condition with good survival of metal. The object was presented as one of three similar objects, all covered with a fine brown sandy silt, in which whitish fragments of calcined bone are embedded. Length: 308.5mm, Width (before cheeks): 103mm, Height (at cheeks): 41.5mm, Thickness (towards point of blade): 29mm. Mass 2115.0g.

3: Iron ploughshare. Wrought iron ploughshare with a rectangular section triangular blade with a slight constriction a little over two thirds of the way along its length, where its sides are bent upwards as a pair of cheeks to accommodate a timber beam. The surface of the blade is slightly concave as it approaches the cheeks and this concavity extends between them. The object is in excellent condition with good survival of metal. The object was presented as one of three similar objects, all covered with a fine brown sandy silt, in which whitish fragments of calcined bone are embedded. The finder reported that one of the smaller shares was juxtaposed with the largest of the group, the two being apparently slotted together, the smaller between the cheeks of the larger, with their points oriented in opposite directions. Length: 250mm, Width (before cheeks): 90mm, Height (at cheeks): 47.3mm, Thickness (towards point of blade): 26.4mm. Mass 1684.4g