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Description: | A cast copper-alloy early medieval or medieval strap end. In profile, the strap end has a broadly flat top and a tapering plate with a curved terminal at the base. In section, the strap end is D shaped, with a flat reverse and a convex front. There are two small rivets near to the top corners of the plate. On the reverse of the plate, there is a U shaped rib at the top of the plate. The two rivets are visible within this feature, one protruding slightly. Within the feature, the base of the plate is inclined, with the maximum depth at the bottom of the U shape. In the centre of the top edge of the reverse of the plate, there is a notch. The U shaped feature, the rivets and the notch are likely to have been part of the technique for securing the plate to the strap.The front of the plate is decorated with a raised interlaced curvilinear design. The reverse is undecorated. There is a small void towards the base of the strap end, and the decoration here appears to be slightly incomplete. It is unclear if this was mis-cast, or if theer has been later loss of material. The strap end has a green patina and if the void represents damage, then this does not appear to have been recent. The strap end is 40.8mm long. 11.9mmwide, and 4.2mm thick (excluding the U shaped rib). These are maximum dimensions. The strap end has a mass of 8.43g.In "Late Anglo-Saxon and Viking-Age strap-ends 750-1100: Part 1", Thomas (2003, p.1) states: "Strap ends provided the dual service of preventing straps to which they were attached from fraying or curling, and on items of costume, adding weight to make them hang down attractively. One can deduce from their considerable variation in size and the fact that they were evidently worn in sets, pairs and singly, that the range current during this period encapsulated several functional contexts."In parts 1 and 2 of "Late Anglo-Saxon and Viking-Age strap-ends 750-1100", Thomas has introduced a classification system for strap ends (2003, 2004). Class A strap ends are summarised as having a split end, convex sided or tapering plate, zoomorphic terminal and an average ratio of length to width of 1:3.5. The strap end described here has a tapering plate and a length to width ratio of 1:3.4. But it does not have a split end or a zoomorphic terminal. Thomas's Class A, Type 2 encompasses a range of non-representational, curvilinear and geometric patterns, often in combination with highly stylised animal head terminals and trilobite palmettes. Thomas's Class E encompasses some strap ends with solid as well split ends for attachments, but these have an increased number of rivets for attachment. Also Class E strap ends tend to be tongue shaped with an average ratio of width to length of 1.2. The strap end described in this record is most closely related to the Class A, Type 2, but it has a variation on the split end for fixing.In terms of dating, Thomas (2003, p.2) states that the chronological limits of the class A strap ends probably lie either side of the 9th century - with some suggestion of 8th century origins and increasing evidence to 10th century usage in the north, by which time the tongue shaped (class E examples had superseded them in the south, continuing into the 11th century. On this basis the strap end is likely to date from the 8th to the 11th century.
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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