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Description: | A complete copper alloy strap end of Early Medieval date. The strap end is a pointed oval in shape with a concaved split terminal with two rivet holes at the attachment end. The strap end is cast in one piece but the attachment end is split into an upper and lower plate to allow the strap material to be fitted. Between the rivet holes on the upper surface is an incised inverted fan shaped decoration below which is a panel of Trewhiddle-style decoration featuring interlaced, stylised beasts or birds. The raised portions of the design a niello inlay niello which has decomposed to a silvery colour.The pointed end of the strap at which a zoomorphic terminal would normally be present, has the unusual feature of a circular sectioned elongated shaft with bulbous terminal. The reverse is flat and undecorated.The metal has a mid green patina and survives in good condition. The strap end is 46.3mm long, 14.8mm wide, 4.5mm thick and weighs 8.1g.Late Anglo Saxon and Viking strap ends have been classified into several types by Gabor Thomas. This example however does not fit into Thomas' classification but is best seen as a varient of his Class D and could be described as 'styliform' in that it resembles a stylus. Similar examples from the East Riding have been recorded on the PAS database as FAKL-9D87B4, FAKL-6F6996, FAKL-B2FD86 and YORYM-807295. Dr Kevin Leahy, National Adviser for Early Medieval Metalwork suggests that, based on the current distribution trends for this object type, they may be a specifically Northern type.
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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STRAP END
Early Medieval, copper alloy strap…
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