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Description: | An incomplete cast copper-alloy strap fitting or strap union junction of probable later Iron Age to early Roman date. It is formed from three loops joined at a central boss decorated with a stylised human head in relief. The central boss is oval shaped in form with a hollow/concave back face. The depicted head has eyes formed from circular indentations and separated by a worn but slightly raised and straight nose. Above is a transverse brow/fringe with hair on the top of the head suggested through several incised grooves running back to front. A simple mouth formed rom a transverse groove is perhaps identifiable at the base of the face, although this is not certain due to the preservation of the object. Extending from each side of the head are integral loops with central circular apertures and oval shaped section. The third loop extends from the bottom of the boss and is incompete due to old breaks. The entire object measures 24.65mm in length, 30.28mm in width, 8.90mm in height/thickness, and weighs 8.98g.Similar parallels to this object with central bosses in the form of stylised human faces are noted from Suffolk (SF-4428F7) and Northamptonshire (NARC-565894). Strap distributors or junctions formed from three rings are known in the later Iron Age and early Roman periods, and Hutcheson publishes a similar example with human face from Fring, Norfolk noting less elaborate parallels at Camerton (Hutcheson, 2004: pp. 108, no. 38). These are dated to the 1st century BC/AD and suggest a similar date raneg and function for the current example.
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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