English: An iron Early Medieval weaving baton or sword beater probably dating from the 9th century. It is a long tapering iron blade with a socketed end. The baton has been bent near the socket, but is otherwise in good condition.

The socket is U shaped in section and has a rivet hole near the handle end. The socket tapers from the handle end towards the blade. At its widest, the socket is 30.55mm across, and 18.2mm thick from front to back. The top of the blade is 28.9mm wide and 9.3mm thick. Stress marks in the rust suggest that the damage was post depositional. The blade is bent at about 135 degrees. The blade is lozenge shaped in section. The tip is 12.8mm wide and 3.6mm thick. The blade tapers steadily from the socket to the tip.

The baton is very similar to an example from Coppergate, York which is published as number 4419 in the YAT Fasicules (Textile Production at 16-22 Coppergate). The Coppergate example was found in an Anglian pit which was backfilled in the Early Anglo-Scandinavian period and the tool is ascribed a 9th century date. Similar examples have been identified in 7th century graves in Lincolnshire.

The tool was used during weaving on a warp weighted loom to beat the weft upwards.