ASSEMBLAGE

A Treasure case consisting of two grave assemblages from the cemetery at Street House Farm, Loftus, Cleveland. Grave 10 contained a gold pendant, three glass beads, a silver pin and a pair of iron shears, all of early Anglo-Saxon date, and Grave 21 contained two Iron Age gold coins re-used as pendants on a necklace with eight early Anglo-Saxon glass beads.

2005 T540a: Grave 10. Gold pendant (SF117), small detached hexagonal garnet with separate stamped gold backing foil (SF20). Three monochrome glass beads (SF15, 16, 18). Corroded iron fragments from a pair of shears (SF25). Silver pin (SF17). E-W grave, near vertical sides and flat base; the pendant and beads located in the area of the chest and head. The iron shears were at the centre of the grave against the southern wall.

The gold pendant (SF 117) is 27mm in diameter, with a filigree design in two concentric circles. The central setting is empty. It is likely originally to have contained the detached hexagonal garnet backed with the stamped gold foil (SF20) set within a white surround, perhaps of chalk, bone or shell. The item has a single corrugated suspension loop. It belongs to a large group of related filigree-decorated pendants, all of 7th-century date (see, for example, Geake 1997; Webster & Backhouse 1991).

The two smaller annular beads (SF 16, 18) are translucent while the larger barrel (SF 15) is opaque. One of the former still has a wire fragment through its opening, suggesting that it was originally worn on a small ring (this is not mentioned in the final site report, Sherlock 2012, 26). Beads on slip-knot rings, although also found in earlier contexts, are most typical of the 7th century.

A number of corroded iron fragments (SF 25) are difficult to identify without x-rays and were originally thought to come from a chatelaine or key. During post-excavation they were identified as the remains of a pair of shears, another object type characteristic of the 7th century.

The silver pin (SF17) is made from thick circular-section wire twisted at the head to produce a loop, and was found in two pieces.

2005 T540b: Grave 21. Two gold Iron Age coins perforated for suspension (SF 70 and 71), found at each end of a string of eight monochrome glass beads (SF61.1-3, 62.4, 63.5-6, 69.7-8). E-W grave with steep sides and a flat base; the beads and coins were located approximately in the centre of the grave cut.

Both coins (SF70 and 71) belong to the North Eastern style coinage associated with a Late Iron Age people traditionally known as the Corieltavi. The coins are likely to have been produced within a decade either side of the Roman invasion of AD 43. The normal circulation area of these coins, as indicated by finds, covers the modern counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and parts of Yorkshire just north of the Humber. The findspot of these coins would be the most northerly known, but as they appear to have been deposited during the early Anglo-Saxon period this is perhaps less surprising. The coins are of published types. One is inscribed DVMNOCO TIGIR SENO (BMC 3325-3327 / VA972). The second is inscribed VOLISIOS DVMNOCOVEP (BMC 3330-3336 / VA 978). The meaning of these inscriptions is not known. Both coins have been pierced for suspension, with the position of the hole indicating that they are likely to have displayed the wreath pattern on the front rather than the horse on the back. Although a little lightweight, the coins are in exceptionally fine condition and exhibit no real signs of any wear. If deposited more than 500 years after their production they must have been extremely carefully curated, or else originated from a coin hoard rediscovered shortly before the time of the burial. Scientific analysis suggests that the alloy from which they were produced (30-40% gold; 10-20% silver; plus copper) is comparable to that of examples in the Museum's collection. The presence of these coins is unusual, as Iron Age coinage does otherwise not seem to occur in early Anglo-Saxon graves (White 1988, 62ff).

The beads: pale green barrel; green biconical; turquoise miniature 'melon'; white barrel; dark blue bun; translucent blue biconical; dark blue biconical; orange-red biconical.

The site consists of a series of Iron Age buildings, and a current total of thirty Anglo-Saxon graves (see main site report, Sherlock 2012).

Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the surface of four of the items from Loftus, Cleveland gave the following results for surface composition:

1. Pendant with filigree, SF117. 66-68% gold, 28-30% silver, with some copper. Weight 2.63g .

2. Coin pendant, SF70. 28-30% gold, 20-22% silver, with some copper. Weight 4.88g.

3. Coin pendant, SF71. 39-41% gold, 11-13% silver, with some copper. Weight 4.71g.

4. Corroded fragment of pin, SF17. 99% silver. Weight 0.8g.

The site and all details of the graves and their contents are now published in Sherlock 2012.