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Description: | An unusual cast copper-alloy late Anglo-Saxon possible strap fitting, the function of this object is not known with certainty. It is shaped like a cross measuring 53mm by 51mm in size. Its front face is convex and has a central lozenge shaped part decorated with two opposing pairs of parallel holes, two of which are open, the other two do not go all the way through. Inbetween these holes there are four smaller circular indentations and the traces of a similar circular indentation in the centre of the lozenge shape can also be seen. The four arms of the cross-shape project at regular intervals from the central lozenge, each arm measures c16.4mm in length and c9.6mm in width, except for one which is slightly longer and wider and measures 19mm in length and 10.9mm in width. Through the centre of each arm there is a roughly oval shaped perforation, measuring c5.6mm in length and 2.4mm in width. The perforation through the larger arm has traces of corroded iron within it; the others are clean and empty. Each arm has a zoomorphic terminal which appears to represent an animals head resembling a bat or mouse and is similar to the heads portrayed on some 10th century strap ends. Each head has a prominent brow ridge and a square ended snout, any other features, such as ears or eyes are no longer visible due to wear. In the centre of the back face of each zoomorphic terminal there are the remains of corroded iron, which presumably originally went through a horizontal perforation on the reverse each terminal. These iron fragments could have originally perhaps been part of small iron rings hanging from each terminal. The back face is also worn and concave. No exact parallel could be found for this object, however, it is similar in some respects to a probable strap mount from Stoke Ash (see SF-BB4D92). This parallel is also cross-shaped with a convex front face and concave back face, it has a central circular part rather than a lozenge shaped part but its arms also terminate in mouse or bat like heads. However, there are no traces of iron on this example, in fact each terminal has a copper-alloy rivet through it. Due to the similarities between these two objects it is possible that this object is also a strap fitting of some kind, perhaps acting as a strap junction. Alternatively, due to is concave front face and concave back face Dr T Plunkett has suggested that it could possibly be some sort of vessel fitting perhaps from an Anglo-Saxon hanging bowl. Whatever the original function of this object its style and reddish metal indicate that it is most likely to be late Anglo-Saxon c900-1066 in date.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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