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Description: | An incomplete copper-alloy late Anglo-Saxon strap end with its terminal edge missing due to old breaks, now worn. This strap end is unusual and of Gabor Thomas Type E, being tongue shaped and with an average ratio of width to length of 1:2. Type E strap ends were popular on the Carolingian continent and in Scandinavia during the 9th and 10th centuries and contact between Wessex and the Caroligian continent during the last quarter of the 9th century and Scandinavian contact in the British Isles during the same period provides a likely context for the entry of this form of strap-end into the Anglo-Saxon repertoire, its use continues throughout the 10th-11th centuries (Thomas 2004, 1-7, fig 4). This example measures c50mm in surviving length and 27mm in width, it is rectangular in shape with a split attachment end with the corroded iron remains of rivets through each corner. The back face is undecorated and the front face is decorated. At the attachment end there is a band of ring and dot stamps, some of which are now faint due to wear. Below these there are two opposing pairs of spiral recessed designs with a rectangular central element seperating them with faint ring and motifs visible on this. Projecting from the base of this are two longitudinal ridges which terminate in the centre of the upper edge of another central rectangular element again with three ring and dot motifs on it. This second central element has two opposing pointed oval shaped mouldings projecting from the centre of its edges and has four longitudinal ridges project down from its base, the outer two of which curve upwards to form opposing spirals, as seen on the upper design. How the central two ridges terminate is unknown as the strap end is incomplete from this point onwards. A very similar although less complete strap end with the same design of pairs of spirals on its front face is known from Mendlesham (West 1998, 232, fig 114, no 10). There is a slim possiblity that this design is anthromorphic, other strap ends with a band of ring and dot motifs above a human figure in low relief with raised arms are known, for example from Saham Toney, Norfolk (see SF-FA89E6), but those decorated with human figures are rare and this example is probably more likely to be a decorative design.
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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