kids encyclopedia robot

Near Fakenham plaque facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Near Fakenham plaque
Lead middle Saxon lead plaque with runic inscription (FindID 751600) (cropped).jpg
Material Lead
Size 29 × 24 × 1.2 mm
Weight 7.73 grams (0.273 oz)
Writing Anglo-Saxon runes
Created c. 750-1100 CE
Discovered 1 September 2015
Near Fakenham, United Kingdom
Identification NMS-63179C

The near Fakenham plaque is a small lead object found in Norfolk, England. It dates back to between the 8th and 11th centuries CE. This plaque is special because of its Old English runic writing. Experts believe it was used for healing someone who was sick, possibly from something believed to be caused by a dwarf.

How the Plaque Was Found

The Fakenham plaque was discovered in 2015. A metal detectorist found it in a field near a church and the town of Fakenham in western Norfolk. The exact spot where it was found is kept secret.

Scientists couldn't directly find the age of the plaque itself. However, other items found in the same field helped them guess its age. They believe it was made between the late 8th century CE and the 11th century CE. This time period also fits with the style of writing on the plaque.

What the Plaque Looks Like

Detail of runic inscription (FindID 751600)
A close-up of the runic writing on the plaque.

The plaque is made of lead. It weighs about 8 grams, which is less than a pencil. It is also quite small, measuring about 3 centimeters on its longest side.

One side of the plaque has a small hole, possibly for a nail. It also has a carving that looks like a human face or mask. This face has two pointy eyes.

What the Runes Say

Along the sides of the plaque, there are carvings of Anglo-Saxon runes. These runes spell out an Old English phrase: 'deadisdwerg'. This phrase means 'dead is dwarf'.

The last three runes are carved on a different side from the others. Also, the first rune, which looks like ᛞ (called a Dæg rune), is partly hidden. Even with these small challenges, most experts agree on what the runes say and what they mean.

The 'ea' sound in the word is shown by a single rune, ᛠ (called an Ear rune). This specific rune was used later in the Anglo-Saxon period. The oldest known example of this rune comes from the middle of the 8th century CE.

See also

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Near Fakenham plaque Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.