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Description: | A copper-alloy strap-end of Early-Medieval to Medieval date.The shaft of the strap-end is narrow, parallel-sided and thick. The convex upper surface bears three parallel decorative panels, separated from each other by segmented bands. Portions of these panels show signs of wear; the right hand panel, which survives best, bears a series of small incisions which extend inwards from both of the longer sides, creating a zig-zag line in between. The other panels appear to have been decorated in the same manner. At the base of the strap-end is a heavily stylised zoomorphic head. The lower portion of this head takes the form of a cross with expanded terminals, formed by the removal of four wide, angled grooves. The two small recessed eyes are located one at either side of the central cross arm. The snout is rounded and the nostrils are of the same form as the eyes, albeit smaller. At the top of the head are the ears, consisting of two sub-rectangular mouldings with incised detail and separated from each other by an inverted 'T-shaped' groove. The central decorative panel of the shaft extends into the ears, indicating a probable decorative association. At the top of the strap-end is the attachment, which consists of two plates, one either side of a central gap. This attachment is set slightly lower than the upper surface of the shaft, its sides flaring outwards towards the top. The horizontal upper side has a 'V-shaped' depression at the centre. Immediately below this upper side are two in situ copper-alloy rivets, the bases of which sit within corresponding holes in the lower attachment plate. Incised into the surface of the attachment is a poorly-incised 'U-shaped' groove containing an incised saltire. All recessed elements of the strap-end's design contain a corroded niello infill.The artefact survives in good condition, with a dark green surface patination. It measures 51.7mm long, up to 9.9mm wide (attachment end) and 4.7mm thick. The weight is 9.44g.This is an example of a Thomas Class B1 strap-end and dates from the late 8th to late 11th/early 12th century (see Thomas 2003:4-5).
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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