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Description: | A cast, copper alloy strap fitting dating from the first or second century. The fitting is essentially sub rectangular but divided by notches into three areas and decorated with boss and petal designs. The central area has a central boss which is worn but appears to be decorated with an X in relief. This is flanked by grooves separating the centre from two hemispherical projections, one each side. The underside of these are hollow. The central area is thus hourglass shaped with a projecting central boss. Projecting from the other two sides of the boss are necks linking to the other two areas. These are matching. Each consists of two egg shaped boss and petal motifs, set base to base and pointing to the sides. The grooves round the bosses may have originally contained enamel. The mount is integrally cast. On the reverse, projecting from the back of the central boss is an integral, triangular suspension loop pierced with a semi-circular hole. The mount has a rough, light green patina. It is 35.9mm long, 30.1mm wide and 23.1mm thick. It weighs 29.81gm. This strap fitting is clearly of early Roman date, related to the button and loop fasteners of similar design, but its function is unclear. The shaft to the attachment loop seems too long for it to be a strap slide. It may be a phalera, but these are normally circular. Compare LANCUM-1C97F0 and NMS-1259D0 which are in a similar style.
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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