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Description: | A cast copper-alloy early medieval strap-end. The strap end consists of a split-end at the top and a convex sided plate with a broadly flat bottom. It is likely that the plate is broken at the bottom, and that a zoomorphic terminal is missing (discussed further below). The split end, which flares out in profile, contains two horizontally aligned rivet holes, with two rivets still in place. These rivets would have originally secured the strap within the split-end. Below the split-end the plate is essentially flat with incised decoration on both sides. On one side (hereafter referred to as the front) there is a pelta shaped design (curve sides triangle) below the rivet holes. There is a curved (convex) border near to both of the longer edges decorated with a series horizontal grooves. The main body of the plate is decorated with a design within a sub-rectangular frame. As elsewhere on the strap end, this consists of incised lines. The design appears to be zoomorphic, the head at the top facing slightly to the left, its ears protruding upwards and eyes and nose represented. Its body is below. The design on the reverse follows a similar form. There is a lozenge shaped design below the rivet holes. There is a curved (convex) border near to both of the longer edges decorated with a series horizontal grooves. There is a similar border, although horizontal and decorated with vertical lines near to the bottom of the reverse of the plate, with a plain section below this. The main body of the plate is decorated with an incised design within a sub-rectangular frame. The design takes a broadly "2" shaped form, decorated with incised lines and dots (both inside and outside the "2" shaped design). The strap end is 29.0mm long, 10.7mm wide, and 1.3mm (excluding the split end). The strap end has a mass of 2.2g. The strap end has a well developed green/brown patina. There is an unidentified off-white substance within portions of the central incised design on the reverse. There may also be traces of a white metal coating on the reverse, particularly towards the bottom. 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 convex sides and a split end and most closely fits within this class. It does not have a zoomorphic terminal, but this may be missing as the surface appears broken, possibly along a decorative groove (but not recently), hence the length to width ratio is not considered. 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. On this basis the strap end is likely to date from the 8th to the 10th 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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