Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: HESH-260152
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Cast copper alloy dress accessory or strap fitting of probable Early Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) date (500-1050). The fitting is irregular in plan, bowed in profile and D shaped in cross section. The edges of the fitting are beveled. It measures 21.4mm in length, 23.8mm width and is 1.9mm thick. It weighs 4.01 grams.
The shape of the fitting in plan is broadly sub triangular with the apex of the triangle tapering and then expanding into a semi-circular projection. The upper part of the fitting curves back to form a sub-rectangular U shaped hook. The front face of the fitting is decorated with a series of punched decorations. The majority of these are obscured by a light green corrosion product. The only clear and complete element is an irregular ring and dot style motif. This is formed from a central annulet (hollow ring) within a punched broken circle / ring. It seems that this ring is made up of 5 curvi-linear parts. The reverse of the fitting is undecorated and plain.
The fitting or dress accessory is a light green colour with a very abraded and corroded patina that covers all surfaces. There are a number of areas of light green powdery active corrosion present on both faces of the artefact. The reverse of the fitting has a large amount of encrusted corrosion present. The lower part of the fitting (around the semi-circular projection at the base) has been abraded and bent. This has resulted in the fitting becoming asymmetrical in plan. Although no direct parallel has been found in published reports a very similar example was recorded by the PAS in Shropshire (reference HESH-6E0600).
Class: Strap Fitting
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: AD 500
Date to: AD 1050
Quantity: 1
Length: 21.4 mm
Width: 23.8 mm
Thickness: 1.9 mm
Weight: 4.01 g
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 5th August 2005
This information is restricted for your access level.
4 Figure: SJ4108
Four figure Latitude: 52.666487
Four figure longitude: -2.87386
1:25K map: SJ4108
1:10K map: SJ40NW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.