Rights Holder: Suffolk County Council
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Unique ID: SF-078A7C
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A cast copper-alloy bridle fitting or harness link of Early-Medieval date. It has a rectangular shaft that is D-shaped in section with flat back and rounded front face. At the centre of the shaft is a dome-shaped boss with flattened front face and back face. At each end of the shaft are integral loops. These are circular in form, D-shaped in cross section, and with large central circular apertures that have evidence of use-wear at their outer edges. The entire object measures 61.44mm in length, 18.43mm in maximum width at loops, 7.27mm in width at boss, 5.59mm in maximum thickness, and 14.07g in weight.
This is a double-ended bridle fitting of later Early-Medieval date. Similar examples are recorded through the Portable Antiquities Scheme (see for example SF-024E07, SF-7E7BF2, SF-87F116, SF-771649) and have been studied by D. Williams, who suggests their possible use as harness links and dating to the 11th century AD (see Williams, 2007).
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1000
Date to: Circa AD 1100
Quantity: 1
Length: 61.44 mm
Width: 18.43 mm
Thickness: 5.59 mm
Weight: 14.07 g
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 1st October 2014
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Other reference: Finder's Ref.: 32
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.