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Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy (Iron Age bronze) looped toggle, dating from the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD. The toggle survives in an excellent condition. The object has been cast in one piece. The toggle is shaped rather like the head of a hammer-head shark. That is to say the main body of the toggle is cylindrical and either end has been capped by a circular rove. In the centre of the main body of the toggle there is a raised step or 'block' in the copper alloy equal in diameter to the roves. The circumference of the roves has been decorated with parallel engraved double lines, which run around the widest part of the roves. The central block has also been decorated in this way. The arms (between the central block and the roves) have varying degrees of wear - evident from the thickness of the metal cylinder. These wear patterns are situated in precisely the areas where contact would occur when the toggle head was engaged. It is likely a leather strap would have wrapped around this section of the toggle, therefore causing the wear. The flat terminals of the toggle are worn, so little detail can be seen.The central block extends into a projection that curves around to form the loop. It has been cast integrally to the main body of the toggle. The loop begins as a flattened strip of copper alloy and then forks out to form the triangular loop. Most of the loop has broken off so most of it has been lost. The toggle survives in an excellent condition and the original surface appears to be intact. The metal has a smooth almost shiny patina, typical of the fine tin-rich copper alloy that was used at the time this toggle was made. The metal is a mid greyish-green colour. It is likely that this toggle would have been used for fastening bags, clothes or straps. Similar toggle have been recorded onto the PAS database, database number: BERK-FA25F5, SUSS-D17D34 and SF-3326E3. These toggles are similar but not the same. A study of the literature produced no direct parallel. Other similar toggles can be seen in Jackson, 1990, p40, ref: 87.
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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