Crummy (1981, p.14) records, 'Three iron spearheads and an iron shield boss were found during the construction of 10 Mersea Road in 1873. A second shield boss was discovered before 1897. The weapons were undoubtedly from inhumations although no bones are recorded as having been found'.<1><2>

Crummy records:
Spearhead no 1 (CM 1511 PC) belongs to the Swanton series Dl dated 5th to 7th centuries; spearhead no 2 (CM 1512 PC) to series CI dated 5th to mid 6th centuries; and spearhead no 3 (CM 1513 PC) to series H2 dated 5th to 6th centuries. Both bosses are of the low-cone type which is attributed to typically 5th and 6th century contexts (Evison 1963, 39-42). Boss no 4 (CM 1507 PC) has a straight-sided cone whilst that of boss no 5 (CM 58. 1897) is convex. The latter has a strap-handle (Fig 16, 5a) which is a feature that Dr V I Evison regards as being indicative Fig 16 Mersea Road: spearheads and shield bosses (1:3)
of the 6th century or later (Evison 1963, 39-40). A fragment of iron plate is attached by a rivet to one end of the strap-handle. The plate and handle are corroded to the boss, making it impossible to determine by visualinspection whether or not the rivet extended into the flange of the boss. The plate may have been a repair or possibly a means of attaching the handle to the body of the shield.