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MOUNT
Unique ID: BM-4E550E
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Tubular casting of silver, broken at both ends and with cast decoration on all external surfaces and one glass inlay remaining; maximum length 38mm; width 14.5 mm. There appears to be gilding and this is neither confirmed nor denied by the scientific report. Part of the original upper edge remains together with a broken hole for an attachment rivet, showing that this is a discrete finial or decorative terminal. The broader part of the tube consists of three panels of similar six-strand interlace in low relief which taper slightly to a narrow collar above a prominent rounded collar (length overall 23.2mm). Beyond is a broad animal head of almost cubic shape. Long narrow ears run up behind each cheek and their rounded ends project slightly to either side behind the brow. The brows are lobed and a decorative triangular panel of billets lies between the ear-tips. Large circular eyes (one still inlaid with glass) sit in curved fields which fill and define the flat cheeks. The snout was ridged and ribbed and is mainly broken away, but a flat base panel defined by an incised line remains. The panels of interlace and stylised beast head show this to be Anglo-Saxon workmanship of the middle-Saxon period.
Notes:
The slight curvature of the deep collar and head in profile and the robust, heavy casting indicate that this is a horn-terminal, while the interlace and treatment of the eyes, combined with the ribbed texturing also show that this piece is of 8th century date. The form and ornamental features of the head and ears would repay further research. The width and slight taper of this base plate of the snout might suggest that it was originally in the form of an elongated beak in the tradition of earlier Anglo-Saxon terminals or of contemporary Irish horn terminals. Contemporary animal heads in Anglo-Saxon applied arts, however, normally have quite snub-nosed, short snouts. I know of no equivalent Anglo-Saxon horn terminal of this period. There is a larger, fully round decorative gilt-bronze finial from the Isle of Wight which shares some of the characteristics of this piece (S. Youngs 'An Anglo-Saxon staff fitting from near Brading' in K. Ulmschneider 'Archaeology, history and the Isle of Wight in the Middle Saxon Period', Medieval Archaeology vol. 2000, 40-4).
S.M. Youngs
P&E, British Museum
Class: Horn Terminal
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Grantham Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2003T77
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Saxon style
Date from: Exactly AD 700
Date to: Circa AD 800
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 38 mm
Width: 14.5 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 1st March 2003
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2003T77
Materials and construction
Primary material: Silver
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Spatial metadata
Region: East Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Lincolnshire (County)
District: South Kesteven (District)
Parish or ward: Green Hill (District Ward)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SK8936
Four figure Latitude: 52.91406255
Four figure longitude: -0.67790568
1:25K map: SK8936
1:10K map: SK83NE
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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