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Description: | An incomplete copper-alloy ??socketed hook??. This object consists of an openwork circular-sectioned socket, expanded on the front into a convex, roughly oval plate which on other examples is more distinctly cross-shaped. A strut extends from the front and back, and the struts converge to meet at a solid conical terminal which tapers into what was originally a hook or loop but which is now incomplete. The front strut has a scalloped outline which on other examples is sometimes engraved with a fish-like motif. The rear strut is straight-edged and rectangular in cross-section. It measures 41mm in surviving length and 13mm in maximum width, across the widest part of the socket.
Over twenty socketed hooks are now known from England. Around one-third come from Norfolk, e.g. Roudham (HER 25921), East Walton (HER 25856), Cawston (HER 32896), Attlebridge (HER 34326), West Acre (HER 3953, PAS NMS-4D8022), Catfield (HER 40989) and Acle (HER 42032, PAS NMS-3031F0). Examples from outside Norfolk include the pairs from Osbournby, Lincs (PAS LIN-F29FC4) and Bures St Mary, Suffolk (PAS SF-FCF566 and SF-FD3563), and the single examples from Shudy Camps, Cambs (PAS ESS-A983B8), Lane End, Bucks (PAS BUC-1C1BB6), West Wycombe, Bucks (PAS BUC-BD2E16), Saltfleetby St Clement, Lincs (PAS LIN-E30446), Saltfleetby All Saints, Lincs (PAS LIN-3AD358), Kilmiston, Hampshire (PAS HAMP-006A88), Southfleet, Kent (PAS KENT-134CE6) and Cobham, Kent (PAS KENT-8D0373).
Related items, which have the socket expanded to a cross shape at the front, include an example from Lingwood with Burlingham, Norfolk, and three on the PAS database, HAMP-5D2084 and HAMP-5D7A36 (both from Wonston, Hampshire) and SUR-552D78 (from Godstone, Surrey). HAMP-5D2084, SUR-552D78 and the Lingwood with Burlingham example lack the front strut and have flat rear struts; on the Godstone example the strut is soon broken, but on the Wonston example the strut ends in a broken circular loop and on the Norfolk example it has a curved outline before ending in a worn point. From the occasional presence of engraved decoration in a Ringerike-style technique, it seems that all of these items can be dated to the 11th century. | Subjects: | Anglo-Scandinavian socketed hook | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Minter, Faye - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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