Near Fakenham plaque facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Near Fakenham plaque
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 lead plaque uncovered in Norfolk in England, dating to between the 8th and 11th centuries CE. It is notable for its Old English runic inscription that has led to the widely accepted interpretation of the item as having been used for healing an affliction either caused by, or conceived of, as a dwarf.

Discovery and dating

The plaque was found in 2015 during metal-detecting in a field adjacent to a church and near Fakenham in western Norfolk, though the precise location is currently not disclosed. Though the plaque itself has not been able to be directly dated, it is generally dated to between the later half of the 8th century CE to the 11th century CE, based on other findings from the same field. This broad window is consistent with the linguistic evidence from the inscription.

Physical description and inscriptions

Detail of the runic inscription of the plaque.

The plaque is made of lead, weighing approximately 8 g and measuring approximately 3 cm along its longest side. One face has a single nail hole and bears a carving that has been noted to resemble a human-like mask with a pair of pointed eyes.

Along the sides are carving Anglo-Saxon runes that spell out the Old English phrase 'deadisdwerg', meaning 'dead is dwarf'. The last three runes are carved on a separate side to the others and the first ᛞ or Dæg rune is partially obscured, however, both this reading of the runes and their translation are widely accepted. The 'ea' diphthong is represented by a single ᛠ or Ear rune, a late Anglo-Saxon rune, with the oldest datable example coming from the middle of the 8th-century CE.

See also

• Apotropaic magic
• Canterbury charm
• Kvinneby amulet
• Sigtuna amulet I