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STIRRUP
Unique ID: ESS-7FB080
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Late Early Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) cast copper alloy stirrup strap mount of Williams class A type 1.
The main body of the mount is sub-triangular, with the two side edges being convex. There is a damaged and incomplete knop at the apex of the mount, with a circular rivet hole located just below. There is a small, semi-circular knop on each side of the mount parallel to this upper rivet hole, and a further knop on each side located just before the base of the mount. These knops form part of the zoomorphic decoration of the mount, formed of two incised entwined, stylised animal heads, one running down each side of the mount. The upper knop forms an ear, and the lower knop part of the snout. The lower edge of the mount has a further two semi-circular projections, one at each end; these projections apear to be undecorated, however they are reminicent of the projecting animal heads at the base of Williams class A type 2A mounts. There are two circular rivet holes just above the lower edge of the mount, one of which is filled with iron corrosion. There is a worn break where the flange would have been located. The reverse of the mount is plain and undecorated with a significant amount of iron corrosion on the lower third of the mount, some of which is probably from the corroded iron rivet, but may also be the remains of an iron strap.
The mount is 44.94mm long, 30.11mm wide, 2.51mm thick. It weighs 17.53 grams.
David Williams has commented that this mount may be a hybrid between class A type 1 and 2 due to the animal head projections (more charactieristic of type 2) although the incised design is more consistant with type 1 mounts.
Cf. SUR-531314 on this database
Class:
strap mount
Sub class: Williams Class A, Type uncertain
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Colchester & Ipswich Museum Service
Subsequent action after recording: Donated to a museum
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1000
Date to: Circa AD 1100
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 44.94 mm
Width: 30.11 mm
Thickness: 2.51 mm
Weight: 17.53 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 1st January 2010 - Friday 30th April 2010
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: OEF 6283
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Zoomorphic
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Essex (County)
District: Colchester (District)
To be known as: Birch CP
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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