STRAP FITTING

An incomplete copper-alloy object, probably a strap fitting or buckle plate of Medieval date. The surviving fragment is roughly rectangular in form, terminating on two edges in old breaks. The surviving complete corner has a single circular rivet hole, while the front face has extensive punched and incised decoration. This comprises a border formed from double wavy line (rocker?) grooves at the upper edge, and a similar single line at the attachment end. At the attachment end a row of punched ring and dot motifs, of which four survive, run along the border and are separate from the upper upper edge and the centre of the plate by a double band of wavy lines. A similar row of punched ring and dot motifs runs along the upper edge and is separated from the centre of the plate by a double row of wavy lines. At the centre of the plate are the incomplete remains of a decorative floral or foliate motif. This comprises a pointed oval motif, perhaps a leaf, with central groove that runs to the outer corner of the panel and is formed from single wavy (rocker?) lines. To each side of this decorative element are single diagonal or vertical lines that separate it from further decorative elements, their precise nature uncertain due to old breaks but perhaps of similar pointed-oval form. The entire fragment measures 23.24mm in length, 21.11mm in width, 0.59mm in thickness, and 1.41g in weight.

This is a decorative strap fitting, perhaps a buckle plate or similar. Although no close parallel for the decorative elements has as yet been identified, it is likely to date to the Medieval period, c.13th-15th centuries AD.