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Description: | A copper alloy strap fitting, which could be from either a belt loop, a personal strap fitting, bridle fitting or non-load bearing harness fitting. This decorative fitting most probably dates to the Late Iron Age. It is however also possibly that this object dates to a later period. It is formed of a figure of eight loop with a third loop set at 90° between the two. The three loops appear to have been wrought together by a bronze smith, rather than being cast as one piece. The three loops were probably made individually and then soldered together. The joins would then have been heated and hammered so the object appears more solid. All three loops have circular sections; and all three loops have been very crudely formed and are irregularly shaped. There is evidence of wear within all three of the loops. The loops in the figure of eight formation both have a 9.9mm internal diameter. The section of one loop measures 3.9mm (on average) the other 4.9mm (on average). The loop with the thinner section also shows more evidence of wear. The loop which is set at a 90° is smaller and only has an internal diameter of 9.0mm (on average). The loop measures 4.7mm in section. Overall the object measures 31.7 x 35.9 mm. The metal has a high gloss patina which still survives as the original surface. The metal is a deep, rich greyish-green colour, typical of other Iron Age metalwork from this part of West Sussex. The metal is slightly pitted. The copper alloy used to make this piece probably had a high tin contain. A similar strap fitting was recorded in East Sussex, Near Eastbourne. See PAS database record number: SUSS-472333.
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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