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Description: | A complete cast copper alloy strap end of Early-Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) date (c. AD 700 - c. AD 1000). Length: 40.8mm; width: 8.7mm; thickness: 3.0mm; weight: 3.81g. The strap end has a zoomorphic terminal at one end and is split at the attachment end to accommodate a strap or girdle. There are two circular rivet holes at this end which both have a diameter of 1.7mm. The front face has three distinct areas of decoration. At the attachment end there is a saltire cross enclosed by a 'U'-shaped border. The central area has a larger saltire cross with chevrons in two of the opposite angles and crouching beasts in the other two angles. At the terminal end, decoration is in the form of an animal head consisting of eyes, a chevron shaped nose and a slightly raised area representing the nostrils at each corner. Most of the decoration appears to have been punched although the eyes have been carved, possibly. The rear face is plain and slightly convex. This strap end is slightly corroded in places but is largely patinated with a dark brown patina. 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, an extant length to width ratio of 1:3.4 (but the length is incomplete), a split end and 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. The strap end described in this record is most closely related to Class A, Type 2. 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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