BRIDLE BIT

A slightly corroded fragment from a late early-medieval/Anglo-Scandinavian cast copper-alloy cheekpiece (c. 11th century AD). The fragment is formed of a curved Ringerike style animal head and neck in profile. The cheekpiece is flat on the reverse, and bevelled around the edges of a flat front. The neck is long and the head is set at roughly right angles to it, but flares out to more like forty-five degrees at the top. On the outer edge of the curve is a three-pointed protrusion, suggesting a crest; this is slightly recessed. At the end of the head is an angled point (at forty-five degrees), the upper part of the gaping jaw. Below are two small lobed protrusions in a row; together these represent the tongue and lower jaw, respectively. The design of the head is comparable with beasts represented on contemporary stirrup-strap mounts (see Williams 1997, 10; fig. 6). The upper surface of the neck is seemingly plain. Its outer edge is slightly bevelled.

The fragment is not readily classifiable using the relevant typology (Williams 2007), although comparable (decorated) cheekpiece fragments have been recorded on this database, for example HAMP-9402E8 and ESS-F768E2. It can also be compared with an example illustrated by Pedersen (1998, 135; fig. 4c) from Sebbursund, Denmark. By comparison with other cheekpieces it is supposed that this animal head would have projected on one side of the cheekpiece with a corresponding head on the other side. Where the necks join there would be a pierced hole, through which the bridle would be secured.

The break is old and smooth. The artefact has corroded to a red-brown colour. It measures 39.1mm by 32.1mm by 5.6mm and weighs 19.14g.