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Description: | Two fragments forming a complete strap end. A dark green/brown surface patina indicates that the object is copper alloy, although the whiteness of the fabric at the recent break suggests a high lead content. Linear dot-punched decoration on one side of the strip is typical of Romano-British strip bracelets. Two rivet holes cutting through the decoration suggest re-use of the bracelet as a strap end, probably in the Early Medieval period. Re-use of cut down Roman bracelets is associated with the early Anglo-Saxon period, circa late 4th to 5th centuries. Identification of the strap end as originally a Roman bracelet has been confirmed by Dr Ellen Swift. Dr Swift dates the bracelet to the early Roman period, as late Roman bracelets tend to be narrower. The riveted fragment has a square-shaped terminal that appears to have been formed from an antiquarian break. This is indicated by the unevenness of the break and the way it cuts through the decoration. Two rivet holes are located approximately 4.1mm from the terminal. The round perforations (the larger one approximately 2.1mm in diameter, the other approximately 1.7mm in diameter) have been punched through from the reverse side. On the front, two raised bands form a linear decoration running parallel along the length of the strap. Both bands are ribbed by shallow incised lines. The reverse of the strap is undecorated. The end of the strap comprises of a clean break. The break has been caused by the bending of the strap in antiquity which created an inherent weakness. The riveted fragment measures 22.88mm x 13.19mm x 0.92mm and weighs 1.7g. The ribbed decoration continues on the second fragment until it is traversed by a single dot-punched line approximately 11.2mm from the terminal. Two diagonal dot-punched lines cross to form an X-shape which is bordered by another single dot-punched line approximately 1.43mm from the terminal. The terminal edge is smooth with rounded corners, which coupled with the decoration, suggests that this was the original terminal of the strip bracelet. The fragment measures 23.02mm x 13.53mm x 1.21mm and weighs 2.1g.An example of a late Roman strip bracelet with similar decoration to the strap end is recorded in Cracknell and Mahany:1994, page 185, fig 27.
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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