I would guess that it is a rather decorative element from a highly-decorated coffin.  It is probably not from the plain hex coffin you found in this grave, but from the grave fill.  This would make it, most likely, to be from an earlier burial, disturbed by the later burial that contained the hexagonal coffin, or its disturbance could have resulted from other excavations in the grave yard.

D. Babson.


-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Candace Ehringer
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 2:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Help with Identification, Please!

I have been working on a 19th-century cemetery in Los Angeles. We found 
this item with one of the burials. It was recovered during dry screening, so I 
don't know it's location within the grave. It is unlike anything else we found. It 
does not resemble any other coffin hardware and, in fact, this burial was in a 
plain hex coffin without handles or other coffin hardware. The item appears to 
be made of a soft metal and has purple corrosion on it (visible in the photos). 
There is a little "nubbin" in the center which looks like it was used to attach 
this item to something. I'm stumped. Does anyone know what this is?

Photos can be viewed at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10925368@N07/

(There is another item made of the same metal, but it is nearly completely 
covered in sediment/rock/corrosion. The excavator guessed that it was a 
bullet. I can't discern the original shape, however.)

I would greatly appreciate any and all suggestions/ideas. Thanks!