Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: FAKL-508584
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
Copper-alloy girdle-hanger, complete but with its shank bent almost at right angles a little way below the 'neck'. The bend appears to have caused a little stress to the metal; there appears to be some wrinkling and cracking on the reverse (the convex face of the curve). The shank has a flat cross-section for most of its length, 9.8 x 2.8mm at the junction with the wards but tapering to 7.0 x 2.5mm at its upper end where it joins a thicker area of shank, the 'neck' in Felder's terminology (Felder 2009). This thicker area is 29.7mm long and is 5.0-5.5mm thick. It begins with a short length which is D-shaped in cross-section and decorated with two crudely engraved short transverse lines. The middle part is 'keeled' or faceted along its length to give a pentagonal cross-section. Above this is another area D-shaped in cross-section and decorated with two similar lines, which then narrows and thickens further and is pierced sideways to form a circular suspension loop.
At the other end of the girdle-hanger carries a square terminal, the tops of the two lateral wards being linked to the shaft by narrow, downwards-angled connecting bars. The edges of both the shank and the bit are marked by rows of impressions made by an annulet stamp 1.6mm in diameter, which was often presented at an angle giving C shaped marks. Both faces of the girdle hanger bear traces of iron corrosion products showing that it was buried in contact with iron objects, probably a knife and iron latch lifters; other corrosion products are also present, obscuring many of the stamp marks. The reverse is undecorated.
Length 157.0mm (estimated); Width 41.7mm; Mass 36.11g.
These objects are found in the graves of sixth-century Anglian women and appear to be imitation keys or latch-lifters; they may have emphasised the woman's status as mistress of the household. It dates broadly to the sixth century AD.
Subsequent action after recording: Submitted for consideration as Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2011T591
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Saxon style
Date from: Circa AD 500
Date to: Circa AD 600
Quantity: 1
Length: 157 mm
Width: 41.7 mm
Weight: 36.11 g
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference: 376
Treasure case number: 2011T591
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.