2006-09-27 16:04:29 Julian Watters jwatters 2011-02-24 13:50:54 Daniel Pett dpett BH-A8E577 Mount A corroded and incomplete copper-alloy object of late Iron Age date. This object appears to be a decorative mount, possibly from a sword, shield or horse harness. The decorative content would suggest a date of late 2nd or 1st century BC. The plate is broken at its widest end and comes to a hooked point at the opposite end. It is decorated on both sides, the main decoration being in the area of the hooked end. This latter area is also the thickest part of the object, the plate gradually thinning towards the ragged edge. One face has decoration entirely achieved by the use of a hatched, cord design, which has been engraved using a relatively stout round, pointed graving tool. This decoration consists of an arc from the mid point of which emanate two further opposing arcs terminating in a lentoid form. The opposite face also carries an arc of hatched engraving, however, the area towards the hooked end is lightly scribed in a complex triskelle based geometric pattern, which appears to be either a 'test' design or is unfinished. The decoration on this lightly scribed section is very similar to elements from a number of decorative insular objects dating to this time, notably that found on the mirrors such as Bromham (see PAS record no. BH-B85CF3), or decorative mounts such as one from the river Bann in Ireland. Another possible parallel may be that from the birse of the Tolna (now part of Hungary) boar statuette. The hatched decoration, in terms of execution, can be paralleled on such objects as the Aylesford bucket terminal. The piece is badly bent, scratched and corroded and was conserved at Verulamium museum. It measures 131.33mm long by 84.88mm wide and 3.3mm thick; it weighs 78.35g. A corroded and incomplete copper-alloy object of late Iron Age date. This object appears to be a decorative mount, possibly from a sword, shield or horse harness. The decorative content would suggest a date of late 2nd or 1st century BC. The plate is broken at its widest end and comes to a ho... Copper alloy Multiple IRON AGE IRON AGE Late -125 1 84.88 131.33 3.3 Incomplete 2006-09-27 16:04:29 BEDFORDSHIRE BEDFORD POINT( ) From Finder TL04NE TL5024 29.06.2003 Metal detector 1 BH Creative Commons Non Commercial Share Alike - The Portable Antiquities Scheme 2006 These records can be reproduced in a non commercial enviroment as long as the original recorder is cited. The Portable Antiquities Scheme info@finds.org.uk No fees are applicable.