Rights Holder: Sussex Archaeological Society
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Unique ID: SUSS-CF45BB
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A nearly complete Early Medieval cast copper-alloy strap end of Thomas' Class B, probaby Type 1 or possibly Type 2, dating to c. AD 750-1050. The strap-end consists of a sub-triangular split plate end held together with two circular rivets (now missing) tapering into an incomplete zoomorphic strap terminal end.
The flat-ended wedge shaped split end seems to have originally had some simple decoration, possibly of Trewhiddle style or simply of two vertical incised lines as in Type 1, whereas the rectangular-sectioned shaft is plain; the terminal end seems to bear traces of a zoomorphic head, including two visible pointed oval ears and a semi-circular snout at the end. No traces of niello or further decoration survive. The split end has broken at the circular rivet holes, creating a scalloped edge that would not have originally been the case. The strap end has an even greenish-brown patina with areas of lighter green corrosion where the outer surface has broken off from damage. It measures 43.6mm long, 9.8mm wide, 3.2mm thick and weighs 5.08 grams.
Thomas comments that Class B, Type 1 was introduced in the latter 8th or early 9th century and remained popular until the 11th. It is widely distributed in southern and south-east England and much less frequently north of The Wash. Class B, Type 2 seems to have been distributed more specifically to the 9th century AD. For a similar example, cf. Thomas, Finds Research Group, Datasheet 32, Fig. 2, No. 13 and 14. Cf. also : West, 1998, A Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Material from Suffolk. East Anglian Archaeology, Report No. 84, p166, Fig. 49, No. 5. See also SUSS-4EBA92 for a similar example.
Class: Thomas Class B, Type 1 or 2
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 750
Date to: Circa AD 1050
Quantity: 1
Length: 43.6 mm
Width: 9.8 mm
Thickness: 3.2 mm
Weight: 5.08 g
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 8th October 2014
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Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
4 Figure: TQ5500
Four figure Latitude: 50.77886949
Four figure longitude: 0.19717683
1:25K map: TQ5500
1:10K map: TQ50SE
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.