MOUNT

An incomplete copper-alloy mount in the form of a sitting bird. The bird is three-dimesional and has a solid oval head with a long beak. The body is convex, pointed oval in plan and has two incomplete stubs of metal projecting from the rim on the underside. These two tabs would have joined to form a circular loop.

The object has a mid-green patina with small areas of pitting on the surface.

The bird depicted resembles a duck and other similar examples appear to support this interpretation. Similar mounts from Lincolnshire are known from Claxby by Alford (Ambrose 1978: 83), North Willingham (PAS: SWYOR-D15734), Wickenby (LIN-F1A832), Beesby with Saleby (LIN-9FF138), Edlington with Wispington (LIN-BE7512) and Winteringham, North Lincolnshire (NLM-8A6096). The example from Claby by Alford has a complete hoop that displays extensive wear at the base suggesting that it was affixed to something. An elaborate example depicting an eagle catching a fish is known from Gate Burton (LIN-54A031). The feet of the eagle extends beyond the interior perimeter of the hoop showing that this rings cannot have been used as objects of personal adornments. Rather, the author suspects that these objects were used as bucket rings.

Similar examples from outside Lincolnshire come from Tingewick, Buckinghamshire (BH-6682F5), Barmby Moor, East Riding of Yorkshire (LVPL-52D258), Harkstead, Suffolk (SF8204), Chieveley, Berkshire (BERK-291567), Hillhampton, Worcestershire (WAW-A729E3), and Maltby, South Yorkshire (SWYOR-EDAEB6).

A date of mid first to third century AD is likely.