STRAP END

An incomplete cast copper alloy strap end of Late Roman date (c. AD 350 – c. AD 410). Length: 23.8mm; width: 38.5mm and 5.2mm thick. Weight: 9.37g. When complete, the strap end would have been 'amphora-shaped' in plan. However, the distal end (the lower part) is missing due to three old abraded breaks. Just a small portion of each handle and the central neck are present. The open (attachment) end is in the form of two short integral plates that accommodated a strap. The maximum width of the recess formed by the two plates is about 1.8mm. Each outer edge of the plate has the same profile shape and is formed by a wavy edge which has circular holes for two rivets (now missing). The piece has a mid-green patina and also has small areas of brighter green copper alloy corrosion deposits. It also has iron staining on both faces. Similar examples to this strap end can be seen in the study by Bishop and Coulston (1993, 175, fig 126, no 7), these types are associated with fourth century Dominate belt-furniture. Although not common in Britain (from stratified contexts), examples are known such as one from the Winchester Lankhills cemetery, for instance. They belong to the type of belt with 'propeller' stiffeners similar to a complete set from Zengovarkarhony. They seem to have been worn with the tongue of the buckle facing the wearer's right hip, which meant the strap terminal ended up dangling on the left hip, after being wrapped around the belt a few times. A close parallel for this strap end has been recorded from Melton Parish, Suffolk. See Portable Antiquities Scheme find: SF-123771. Simpson discusses 'amphora-shaped' strap ends in Britannia 1976 (pp 198-200, fig. 4).