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Description: | Copper alloy strap-end with intricate decoration on both front and reverse. The split attachment end is cut straight across, and has a complete copper-alloy rivet in each corner. In the centre of the attachment end, there is a small sunken rectangular field with relief interlace which differs slightly on each face. Below this, the strap-end steps down to a slimmer cross-section, and is decorated with a very slightly tapering long rectangular sunken field filled with relief interlace. As above, each face has a slightly different interlace design. The next part of the strap-end widens slightly to accommodate a circular roundel, with a central circular hole surrounded by radiating grooves. The hole appears to be decorative rather than functional. Around the long rectangular fields and the roundel, and down the sides of the strap-end, are lines of stamp marks. Below the roundel is an animal-head terminal, with rounded eyes flanking a long snout; the tip of the snout is pierced at each side and at the very tip, which gives the appearance of a fanged, serpent-like mouth. The strap-end weighs 8.47g and measures 38.2mm in length, 11.76mm in width and 7.2mm in thickness; it dates to the ninth to eleventh centuries. This type of strap-end is Thomas's Class F, and is particularly common in Viking-age Dublin. The type may originally have been manufactured there, although examples are also known across England and production could have spread to other areas. It has been suggested by Kevin Leahy (pers. comm.) that this type of strap-end might not have been used on a belt, but could have been fixed instead to the end of the strap that held a book shut. The vellum (fine calfskin, lambskin, or kidskin) used for the pages of medieval books has a strong tendency to bend, and so some means of keeping the book shut is beneficial. This suggestion might cause us to re-examine our views of the Vikings, as they are not generally thought to be great readers!
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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