STRAP END

An incomplete, copper-alloy strap-end of the Early Medieval period, dating from AD 800- AD 1100.

The object is tongue shaped in plan and D shaped in section. The top of the object is incomplete and has been broken, presumed in antiquity. It is rectangular and slightly stepped, there is a ridge which leads into the the design. There are no rivet holes present on the top of the object. The strap end is anthropomorphic in style. The design at the front is very worn and represents an abstract standing figure facing. The details on the face are missing. Both 'arms' are outstretched with the hands possibly on hips, there could be profiled beasts hidden in the decoration, it is difficult to be sure. On each side of the decoration are small circular perforations, below are kidney shaped perforations and below that are two diagonal rectangular perforations, the one on the left is incomplete, these holes give definition to the design. The reverse is flat and undecorated aside from a circular concave depression at the head of the figure and at the base.

The object measures 50.0 mm in length and is 24.9 mm wide. It has a thickness of 5.8 mm and weighs 14.0 g.

The strap-end is a mid brown to green in colour with an even patina overall and the breaks are old.

Similar strap ends have been recorded in Thomas (2004), page 3, fig 27, and have been classed as Thomas Class E, Type 2. Tongue-shaped strap ends such as this one were popular on the Carolingian continent and in Scandinavia during the 9th and 10th centuries, where it was regularly used to embellish baldrics, Thomas, (2004), p1. Other similar examples have also been recorded on the database, including IOW-226B7E, LVPL-D1295B and NLM-463C08.

Thomas, G. 2004. Late Anglo-Saxon and Viking-Age strap-ends 750-1100: Part 2. The Finds Research Group Datasheet 33. Finds Research Group AD 700-1700.