STRAP FITTING

A copper alloy strap fitting, which could be from either a belt loop, a personal strap fitting, bridle fitting or non-load bearing harness fitting. This decorative fitting most probably dates to the Late Iron Age. It is however also possibly that this object dates to a later period. It is formed of a figure of eight loop with a third loop set at 90 degrees between the two. The three loops appear to have been wrought together by a bronze smith, rather than being cast as one piece. The three loops were probably made individually and then soldered together. The joins would then have been heated and hammered so the object appears more solid. The figure of eight loops both started off with a circular sections. One of the loops (now broken) has a slightly chamfered internal surface. The complete loop shows some evidence of wear within the ring, the second broken loop is however extremely worn and so the ring has worn very thin and then broken. It is possible that the differential wear pattern being seen hear could imply that the complete loop was connected to a static link or strap, but the broken and worn loop could have housed a more mobile loop or strap which heighten the stress applied to this loop, therefore causing it to wear and eventually break. The third independent loop is not very worn. A crude roughly circular strip of copper alloy projects from the top of this loop. It is however unclear which way around this fitting would have been attached or hung. The metal has a high gloss patina which still survives as the original surface. The metal is a deep, rich greyish-green colour, typical of other Iron Age metalwork from this part of East Sussex. The metal is slightly pitted. The copper alloy used to make this piece probably had a high tin contain.