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Description: | Cast copper alloy strap fitting / strap slide of probable Late Iron Age or native influenced Early Roman date (100 BC - 150 AD). The mount is oval with pointed terminals (vesica or eye shaped) in plan and broadly D shaped in cross section. The fitting measures 35.7mm in length, 19.6mm width and is 13.2mm thick. It weighs 11.57 grams. The front face of the mount is decorated with a raised and recessed cast pattern. This consists of two raised projections /ridges at either terminal of the fitting, these ridges flare and split to form a broadly circular panel. Within this panel is a recessed circular cell which encloses a further raises circle. This inner circle is divided diagonally into four equal cells (and could be described as a crude wheel in design); each cell contains an enamel or paste. The two horizontal inner panels are filled with a much decayed blue glass or enamel like surface, whilst the two vertical panels are probably filled with an off white or yellow paste. The recessed enclosing cells is filled with a similar off-white or yellow paste. All these surfaces are much decayed. The overall design is similar to that of an eye. The reverse of the mount is relatively flat, although there are a few raised ridges which correspond with the cast decoration on the front face. From either pointed terminal a projection extends, one is incomplete being broken close to the surface of the slide. The other consists of a narrow sub-rectangular bar which is incomplete but would have formed a band or hoop which would have enabled the fitting to have been attached to a strap as a tidy or decorative slide. The break is relatively old as a patina has formed over it. The mount is a mid green brown colour with an even but slightly abraded, patina which covers all surfaces. A direct parallel has not been found for this artefact. Although in form it is similar to a mount from the Much Wenlock area, Shropshire (HESH-165726). The use of blue enamel would suggest an early Roman date although using a much older 'native' design tradition.
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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