STRAP FITTING

A cast copper alloy strap fitting; a buttoned ring probably from a scabbard suspesion belt, dating from the middle to late Iron Age, 200 BC - AD 43. It consists of a thick, horseshoe shaped loop with a thinner, broad strip of metal dividing the horseshoe horizontally leaving a circular and a crescent shaped void. The loop is D shaped in section, being flat on the underside and rounded above. It is broader on the outside edge and tapers towards the ends of the horseshoe, which meet at a raised, transverse collar. Above this collar are two stubs of metal in a V shape: the ends of these stubs are broken or abraded and it is not possible to tell if they represent the remains of a second loop. The transverse, central bar is flat. In the centre of the outer edge of the loop is an integral raised stud with a flat, circular top, similar to those found on circular scabbard suspension loops of the same age. On the underside of the artefact are the remains of five mounting studs or spikes, all of which are damaged to a greater or lesser degree. Four are on the underside of the loop and one on the underside of the collar. Other than the transverse collar there is no decoration except on the stud which has an incised circle. The area inside the circle is divided by three radial incised lines. The artefact has a smooth, dark brown patina. It is 43.1mm long, 27.4mm wide and 16.9mm thick. It weighs 22.51gm.

Compare YORYM-6385E8 and SWYOR-621C51 which cite Jody Joy, Curator of Iron Age Collections at The British Museum, as commenting that "the simple belt-ring is a relatively common find of Iron Age type and was presumably used as some form of belt fastener. The buttoned-ring is less common. Two similar rings were both deposited in association with iron swords at Coleford, Gloucestershire and Owslebury, Hampshire. Both of these swords were also found with belt-rings. It is therefore probable that the buttoned-ring and the belt-ring represent the metal remains of a belt used in the suspension of a sword".