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HARNESS FITTING
Unique ID: SUSS-098597
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A corroded fragment of an Early Medieval cast copper alloy harness fitting. The fitting comprises a short sub-rectangular section. On one side of this the metal is broken in an old break, and on the other a rectangular arm projects into an integral oval terminal 17.4 mm wide. The central void of the terminal is oval. It is likely that the fragment had further knops and raised decorative elements but these are obscured either due to extreme surface abrasion or are missing due to old damage. The fragment measures 31.8 mm long, 17.4 mm maximum width, 4.5 mm thick and weighs 5.3 grams.
According to Williams; Anglo Scandinavian Horse Harness fittings (2007) p1; these terminals are Anglo Scandinavian in origin and derive from the Viking Ringerike style. They were used as horse accoutrements to join leather straps such as on cheek pieces, bits and harness links of the period. Oval terminals without knops are found on one side of bit links of this period and these are oval in form, like this example. Williams suggests an 11th century date but indicates they may have had a longer life in England.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Scandinavian style
Date from: Circa AD 1000
Date to: Circa AD 1150
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 31.8 mm
Width: 17.4 mm
Thickness: 4.5 mm
Weight: 5.3 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 7th March 2014
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Fragment
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: East Sussex (County)
District: Wealden (District)
Parish or ward: Arlington (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ5407
Four figure Latitude: 50.84203762
Four figure longitude: 0.18593846
1:25K map: TQ5407
1:10K map: TQ50NW
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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