One of my most unusual finds. Ever seen anything like this?

[Highwater]

Here is a photo of one of my most unusual finds. It measures about 4 inches long and 1 3/4 inches wide. It is obviously hand wrought. It seems to be brass or bronze. I found it about 9 - 10 inches down in fairly compact soil in the Seattle area. It has some strange lettering on the reverse that are from top to bottom interlaced, about 4 letters, or symbols. Look kind of like t or j and maybe L, but you really can't tell. There is a very deep patina. This was obviously in the ground for a very long time. It is pretty heavy, although I have never weighed it. (maybe it is proof that the Vikings were in the area a long, long time ago?) It really looks like midevil. I sent a scan of it to a nearby university history dept. They were very interested in inspecting it, but the Prof that I was supposed to meet to have a look at it had some kind of accident and it never happened. I have no idea where it came from or why it was where I found it. Just one of those strange mysteries.
In the same area this was found we located a few relics from some kind of logging jamberee that must have been held there around the turn of the century. We found a couple tokens and other related period artifacts which were not nearly as deep as the heart amulate. Can anyone give a guess as to what, where, how and when?? Ever see anything like it before?? The modern history around Seattle,only dates back to about 1850. This seems to be much older than that, but that is just my guess. I could be very wrong about that, but the patina is really thick and old looking.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[Littlecarguy]

WOW That is an awesome looking piece. Very nice. Congrats! Very unique .

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[JamesE]

Maybe ask PBK, ??

 

[TXDIRTFISHER]

The horizontal piece looks like two ends of horse shoe nails.

 

[Thomas007]

With the round dimple on the blade... it looks like it might be used to hold something shut like a jewelry box lid or some other device.

Perhaps a spring loaded ball bearing is what the dimple snapped in to originally. Perhaps a clasp of some kind... maybe a scabbard something like this.

I don't believe it is for a necktie... it seems much older and hand wrought but giving the idea of how it could have been used as only.



HH

Sanat