BELL

A complete copper-alloy norse clapper bell. Conical in shape measuring 27.2mm in height and c18.8mm in rim diameter, the rim is now distorted and one half is squashed flat, probably due to damage in the plough soil. The integral suspension loop is roughly circular in shape with a central circular perforation with iron corrosion within it. Inside the bell there is no surviving clapper, it is likely that an iron clapper was used originally and this has since corroded away.

The sides of the bell are decorated with open work triangles arranged to form two opposing groups, two groups consist of four triangles each, with their points arranged inwards towards eachother. Inbetween these groups there are two pairs of opposing triangles, again with their points towards each other. This norse bell dates to the late early-medieval period, c900-1066. Similar bells have been discovered elsewhere in Suffolk, from Covehithe (see SF-0A9956), Monks Eleigh(see SF-2071B7) and Barham (see SF-4A8FA1).