Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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Unique ID: KENT-D874F5
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
Fragment of a silver strap end, comprising the lower, zoomorphic, end. The strap end terminates in an elongated animal head seen from above. Deeply engraved lines define the shape of the muzzle. Traces of niello are visible in the grooves. The nostril areas are separated by two incised lines and the eye areas are large and lentoid-shaped. The eyes themselves are two black niello dots. Two incised lines fill the forehead field. The ears are triangular but set in circles: their original field also shows traces of niello; between them a raised elongated lobe pointing upwards, also defined by niello. The remaining fragment of the central field was divided in field by deeply incised lines, also filled with niello. Only part of the decoration that would have filled these fields is now visible: the remaining details are too small to interpret, but their sinuous line and nicked details are typical of the so-called Trewhiddle style. The design appears to have been symmetrical in both fields and it would have stood out on a black background of niello. It may have been zoomorphic. The back is plain. Stylistically this strap end can be dated to the 9th century AD.
Class: Thomas Class A, Type 1 (possibly)
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being disclaimed as Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2004T229
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 800
Date to: Circa AD 900
Quantity: 1
Length: 24.24 mm
Width: 13.74 mm
Thickness: 2.9 mm
Weight: 3.64 g
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 9th May 2004
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Treasure case number: 2004T229
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.