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Description: | A complete cast copper alloy zoomorphic stirrup terminal, dating to the Early Medieval period (11th century), between AD 1000 ?? 1100 (length: 45.5mm; width: 14mm; thickness: 12.5mm; weight: 28.3g). The terminal has a semi-cylindrical and hollow casing (which the stirrup would have originally fitted into) with a narrowed but rounded snout at one end. At the opposing end, the semi-cylindrical terminal is marked by two parallel linear ridges running around the outside edge. The terminal??s zoomorphic decoration below these ridges is evident although the artefact is worn and corroded. There are two slightly raised ears, which appear to slant backwards above two or three raised ridges, which possibly indicate other facial features. The zoomorphic art style appears to resemble a probable dog or similar animal. The hollow casing at the back of the artefact (length: 37mm; width: 11mm) is completely empty and terminates 10mm from the tip of the snout. Overall, the artefact is in a worn and poor condition with no original patina remaining. Similar examples are illustrated in Williams, D, 1997, 'Stirrup Terminals' [Finds Research Group 700 - 1700 Datasheet 24]. Williams states [page 1] that it is 'likely that all these objects were once attached to iron stirrups.......many terminals may be recognised by their hollow backs, which would have enclosed the diagonal arms of the lower part of the stirrup. In many cases there is also a projecting ledge which would have supported the extremities of the foot plate of the stirrup....The great majority of these terminals are zoomorphic, and many depict a beast;s head with bulging elongated eyes, prominent ears, and sometimes lobe-ended tendrils curling back from the nose, or as crests projecting backwards from behind the ears. The forms of the heads are, in most cases, of Scandinavian inspiration reflecting the late Viking Ringerike and Urnes styles' with a likely date of the 11th century AD. Williams continues [page 2] that 'the distribution of these terminals appears to be confined to the eastern counties of England.' | Subjects: | terminal | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Johnson, Caroline - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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