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Date: |
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Description: | A complete cast copper alloy strap fitting of late Iron Age date (c.100 BC - AD c.43). The fitting consists of a plain penannular hoop which is circular in section with rounded terminals; unfinished casting seams are evident on the exterior and interior aspects of the hoop. Forming the fastening component of the fitting is a sub-circular flat stud positioned opposite the penannular opening of the hoop. This stud which is integrally cast and also unfinished is adjoined the the hoop via a short plain neck, probably circular in section, which is set at 90 degrees to the main hoop. The front of the stud carries a low-relief design of an outer raised circular rim and within this the raised outline of a lozenge and within this a raised central square. This design creates four outer segment-shaped cells and four inner triangular-shaped cells. These cells would have been finished with enamel decoration. The item has clearly been miscast during the process of fabrication and it is for this reason the casting seams have not been filed smooth and the decoration of the face of the stud was not completed. Comparisons with other known examples of this fitting show that the hoop should not be penannular but should be a solid hoop. Interestingly traces of the sandy clay mould, in which the item was made, are still in situ around the neck of the stud between the hoop and the underside of the stud.Although the intended function of this item is not fully understood it was probably intended to form part of a strap fittings for a baldric (ie. a belt for suspending a sword) as similar examples have been found in association with swords, notably at Coleford, Gloucestershire and Owslebury, Hampshire. See IOW-C3C8A6 for a discussion of the literature on these items and for a parallel. Other examples on the database include SUSS-D82452, YORYM-C1E845 and BERK-C6DAA3.The diameter of the hoop is 29.44mm, the diameter of the stud is irregular, due to not being finished, but is approximatley 16mm. The height of the object from the base of the hoop to the top of the stud is 13.75mm. the thickness of the hoop tapers from where it attaches to the stud towards the terminals from 6mm to 5mm. The item has a mid-green patina, with some slight patches of corrosion.
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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