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Date: |
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Description: | Treasure Case: 2006 T37
Object Date: 6th century
Description: Disc mount, probably from a shield boss
The disc mount has a garnet, now cracked and possibly on a backing foil, in a raised setting at its centre. This is surrounded by a concentric freeze of three Style I creatures. Each quadruped has its mouth wide open and its jaws appear to be frame the hind leg of the preceding animal. Traces of gilding are still preserved on the ornament and on the flange of the central setting. An approximately 0.3 cm wide rim is punched with two rows of opposing triangles.
The back is plain, with the remains of a possible rivet stump at the centre. This is surrounded by a concentric zone of uneven corrosion, which may represent remains of solder, as may shiny traces in the smooth outer area of the back. A large chip is missing from the rim area in one place and the back is scratched.
Discussion:
The present mount is likely to be an apex disc from an early Anglo-Saxon shield. They seem to have been soldered onto the shield boss apex, but apparently, there were other methods of attachment, including an iron rod on the back of a disc from Sutton Hoo (Dickinson 2005, 117). This disc, with a diameter of 3.6cm and 3 quadrupeds arranged around the central boss, seems to be a hybrid of her Types a and b.
Apex discs come from all over the Anglo-Saxon area. As the animals are of Style I, a date in the sixth century is likely. If the object is indeed an apex disc, a sixth-century date is supported by the fact that by the end of that century, shield bosses without apex have become fashionable.
Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the surface of the mercury gilt disc mount indicated a silver content of approximately 96%, the balance being copper, gold and lead. The red stone was identified by Raman spectroscopy as garnet.
Bibliography
T.M. Dickinson, Symbols of Protection: The Significance of Animal-ornamented Shields in Early Anglo-Saxon England. In: Medieval Archaeology 49, 205, 109-163
Dimensions: Diam. 3.6 cm; Height 0.5 cm, incl setting; Weight 14.55 grams
Note: This find qualifies as Treasure under the Treasure Act of 1996. | Subjects: | Anglo-Saxon | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Andrews-Wilson, Liz - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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