Rights Holder: Norfolk County Council
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Unique ID: NMS-E51D37
Object type certainty: Certain
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status: Published
A hoard consisting of two terrets and a mount.
1. A complete oval winged or lipped terret. The attachment bar is recessed and rectangular in section with circular mouldings at either end. The circular-sectioned ring, which tapers from either side of the attachment bar to the apex, has three wing or lip like mouldings, the one at the apex being slightly smaller than those to either side. The edge of each of the lipped mouldings is decorated with a cable moulded rib. There is a glossy green-brown patina over much of the surface, but also wear and corrosion damage, particularly on the mouldings and lips.
Width (external) 78mm, (internal) 49mm. Height (external) 61.5mm, (internal) 49mm. Width of attachment bar 26mm.
2. A complete oval skirted terret with a rectangular plate separating the ring from the rectangular attachment loop. The ring has a groove around the outside edge, and is concave on both faces with a further groove following the edge of the loop, curving upwards to follow the edge of a triangular aperture between the ring and the plate, the two ends meeting at the inner edge of the bottom of the ring.
The rectangular, slightly curved plate is decorated with a line around the edge and pecked decoration leaving a pointed quatrefoil and a line to either side of the ring plain. On the reverse is the rectangular sectioned attachment loop.
There is a glossy brown-green patina on almost the whole surface, with slight corrosion around the edge of the plate and a little on the edge of the ring.
Height 59mm. Width 57mm. Internal ring measurements 32.5 x 27mm. Plate 49.5 x 28mm. Internal attachment loop measurements 28.5 x 4mm.
3. A vessel mount , in the form of a bull's head. The mount consists of an incomplete plate with a straight upper edge and convex sides. A groove follows the edge, and there are five large rivet holes, across the lower three of which the plate is broken. In the centre of the plate is a rectangular sectioned upward curving projection terminating in the stylised head of a bull, so that the bull faces whatever the mount was attached to. The mount is broken across the projection and is now in two conjoining pieces.
The back of the beasts neck is decorated with a triple rib. Two large, circular sectioned horns project from the side of the head, and turn upwards at right angles, terminating in flat topped circular knops. The curved snout is faceted, expanding to a cow-like nose above the wide open mouth. Part of the lower jaw is missing.
Plate 49.5 x (at least) 30mm, 2mm thick. Total height c. 75mm. Depth 38mm.
The mount is likely to come from a bucket or a tankard rather than a larger vessel. This mount is very similar to a less complete examples from Suffolk (PAS database number SF8686). Two other similar mounts are also recorded, from Quidenham, Norfolk, (HER31324) and South Yorkshire (PAS database number SWYOR-8447B2).
It is likely that these objects form part of a dispersed hoard of Iron Age fittings.
Date: Iron Age. 1st century AD.
Consequently, in terms of their age and grouping of more than two items, this find qualifies as a prehistoric base-metal assemblage and so as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure (Designation) Order 2002.
Notes:
TVC Valuation 19/01/2012: £600
This is a find of note and has been designated: County / local importance
Current location of find: Norwich Castle Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2011T340
Broad period: IRON AGE
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: IRON AGE
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: 100 BC
Date to: AD 100
Quantity: 3
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 10th April 2011 - Sunday 10th April 2011
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SMR reference number: 55521
Treasure case number: 2011T340
No references cited so far.